Backup system and method based on data characteristics

• US 7,100,007 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Saika, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): PEIKARI, BEHZAD
• Application Number:
  US10/794,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments

Abstract

The present invention permits backup processing suited to data characteristics relating to backup target data by means of a method that is simple for the user. Data characteristic classification definition information, in which data characteristic IDs correspond with one or more data characteristic types respectively, and mapping information, in which backup destination server information corresponds with one or more data characteristic IDs respectively, are prepared. The backup source server 3 sets data characteristic IDs in each of the backup target files on the basis of metadata of designated backup target files and of the data characteristic classification definition information, and then determines backup destination servers 6A to 6C for each of the backup target files on the basis of the set data characteristic IDs and mapping information and transmits the backup target files to the determined servers 6A to 6C.

Claims

1. A backup system, comprising:

a backup source computer device that stores backup target data;

a plurality of backup destination computer devices each connected to the backup source computer device via a network;

a backup mode selector that selects, according to data characteristics of the backup target data, any one backup mode from among a plurality of pre-prepared backup modes; and

a backup executor that stores the backup target data by transferring the backup target data from the backup source computer device to a backup destination computer device that is selected on the basis of the selected backup mode from among the backup destination computer devices,

wherein the backup executor selects a backup destination computer device constituting a backup destination on the basis of backup destination mapping information constituted so as to pre-match at least one or more backup destination computer devices of the backup destination computer devices with each backup mode.

2. The backup system according to claim 1, wherein the backup mode selector determines whether the backup target data possesses any data characteristic on the basis of pre-prepared characteristic classification conditions.

3. The backup system according to claim 2, wherein the backup mode selector determines whether the backup target data possesses any data characteristics by comparing acquired metadata relating to the backup target data, and the characteristic classification conditions.

4. The backup system according to claim 1, wherein data characteristics include any one of data characteristics that prioritize the securing of data reliability or data characteristics that prioritize the securing of data security.

5. The backup system according to claim 4, wherein the data characteristics that prioritize the securing of data reliability can be determined on the basis of at least one or more of judgment elements comprising the number of common users, file extension type, file name, and the presence or absence of write permissions;

and

the data characteristics that prioritize the securing of data security can be determined on the basis of at least one or more of judgment elements comprising the presence or absence of encryption, the number of common users, special features common to common users, the presence or absence of access restrictions, file extension type, file name, and the presence or absence of predetermined keywords.

6. The backup system according to claim 1, wherein the backup executor comprises:

a backup list generator that generates a backup list that includes information specifying backup target data to be acquired by the backup destination computer device; and

a backup list transmitter that transmits the backup list to the backup destination computer device, and

wherein the backup destination computer device comprises;

a data acquisitor that stores backup target data by acquiring same from the backup source computer device on the basis of the backup list received from the backup source computer device.

7. The backup system according to claim 6, wherein the backup list includes information indicating a backup availability time when backup target data can be acquired from the backup source computer device, and the backup destination computer device accesses the backup source computer device according to the backup availability time to acquire the backup target data.

8. The backup system according to claim 6, wherein, upon receiving the backup list from the backup source computer device, the backup destination computer device generates restore data to be used for restoring the backup target data, and transmits the restore data thus generated to the backup source computer device.

9. The backup system according to claim 6, wherein the backup list transmitter controls the time for transmitting the backup list to the backup destination computer device.

10. A backup method that performs a backup between a backup source computer device for storing backup target data and a plurality of backup destination computer devices each connected to the backup source computer device via a network, the backup method comprising:

determining data characteristics pertaining to backup target data on the basis of characteristic classification conditions for classifying data characteristics;

selecting a backup mode by determining a backup destination computer device for each of the backup target data on the basis of the determined data characteristics and of backup destination mapping information that is constituted so that at least one or more of the backup destination computer devices constituting backup destinations correspond(s) with each of the data characteristics;

collecting, for each of the backup destination computer devices, the backup target data corresponding with the backup destination computer devices;

generating, for each of the backup destination computer devices, a backup list that includes information specifying backup target data to be acquired by the backup destination computer devices;

transmitting the generated backup lists to the backup destination computer devices; and

transmitting the backup target data from the backup source computer device to the backup destination computer devices on the basis of the received backup lists.

11. A computer device, comprising:

a component that stores characteristic classification conditions for classifying data characteristics;

a component that determines data characteristics pertaining to backup target data on the basis of the characteristic classification conditions;

a component that stores backup destination mapping information constituted such that at least one or more backup destination computer devices constituting a backup destination correspond(s) with each of the data characteristics;

a component that selects a backup mode by determining a backup destination computer device for each of the backup target data on the basis of the determined data characteristics and the backup destination mapping information;

a component that collects, for each of the backup destination computer devices, the backup target data corresponding with the backup destination computer devices and generating, for each of the backup destination computer devices, a backup list including information specifying backup target data to be acquired by the backup destination computer devices;

a component that transmits the generated backup lists to the backup destination computer devices; and

a component that transfers the backup target data to the backup destination computer devices when the backup destination computer devices request the acquisition of backup target data on the basis of the transmitted backup lists.