System and method for data backup
First Claim
1. A method of data backup of data stored in a first storage device coupled to a computer system, comprising steps of:
- a) storing to a backup storage device coupled to the computer system at least one full backup, each full backup comprising a copy of said data selected from the first storage device in accordance with a first criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data;
b) storing to the backup storage device zero, one or more incremental backups, each incremental backup comprising a copy of said data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria and a second criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, said second criteria determined in relation to a parent backup comprising one of a selected full backup and incremental backup previously stored to the backup storage device; and
c) storing parent data representative of the relationship of each incremental backup to its respective parent backup in a dependency data structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system of data backup for a computer system is disclosed. Full and incremental backups of data stored to a first storage device coupled to the computer system are stored to a backup storage device coupled to the computer system. Data representative of the relationship of each incremental backup to its respective parent backup is stored in a dependency data structure, preferably a tree-like structure. Different types of incremental backups may be performed to provide different data granularity. When two or more storage media are used in a rotational manner, each medium always contains a complete backup. The backup storage device is automatically managed by paring at least one of a full and incremental backup at the backup storage device automatically in accordance with a plan. The plan is preferably configured to manage an amount of available storage space at the backup storage device. When restoring data from a backup, data to be restored that is stored in a parent backup is automatically located and restored.
286 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of data backup of data stored in a first storage device coupled to a computer system, comprising steps of:
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a) storing to a backup storage device coupled to the computer system at least one full backup, each full backup comprising a copy of said data selected from the first storage device in accordance with a first criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data;
b) storing to the backup storage device zero, one or more incremental backups, each incremental backup comprising a copy of said data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria and a second criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, said second criteria determined in relation to a parent backup comprising one of a selected full backup and incremental backup previously stored to the backup storage device; and
c) storing parent data representative of the relationship of each incremental backup to its respective parent backup in a dependency data structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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11. A computer system comprising
a processing means; -
means for coupling the processing means to a first data storage device, the first storage device comprising data to be backed up, said data having a first characteristic;
means for coupling the processing means to a backup data storage device;
said processing means configured to;
storing to the backup storage device at least one full backup, each full backup comprising a copy of said data selected from the first storage device in accordance with a first criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data;
storing to the backup storage device zero, one or more incremental backups, each incremental backup comprising a copy of said data selected from the first storage device in accordance with the first criteria and a second criteria and attribute data representative of attributes of the selected data, said second criteria determined in relation to a parent backup comprising one of a selected full backup and incremental backup previously stored to the backup storage device; and
storing a parent data representative of the relationship of each incremental backup to its respective parent backup in a dependency data structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification