Systems and methods of information backup

• US 7,552,214 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Venkatasubramanian, Krishnan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barqadle; Yasin M
• Application Number:
  US10/756,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 709209-211, 709223-229, 709217-218, 709/8, 709/10, 709/204, 726 3- 4, 726/29
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2056 by mirroring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/84 Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A system for granting or denying access to nodes on a network, includes a first node including a list of nodes that can be granted or denied access to the first node, and at least one other node. The first node and the at least one other node are connected across the network. When the at least one other node attempts to gain access to the first node, the first node reviews the list of nodes to determine whether access should be granted or denied to the at least one other node.

Claims

1. A system for granting or denying access to nodes on a network, comprising:

a plurality of backup storage devices, each of the plurality of backup storage devices assigned to store back up data for a selected grouping of a plurality of backup servers;

a first node coupled to the backup storage device by a network, the first node comprising an agent operable to control access to data on the first node, the first node including a list of backup servers that are permitted to backup data on the first node; and

a first backup server connected to the first node across the network, wherein the first backup server is operable to seek access to the first node to perform a backup of data on the first node; and

wherein upon the first backup server attempting to gain access to the first node, the agent is operable to;

identify the first backup server on the list of backup servers; and

package data to be transported to the backup server for storage on the backup storage device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein, when the first backup server is identified on the list of backup servers, a user of the backup server is prompted for a user identification and a password for accessing the first node.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of nodes is modified by locally logging into the first node.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a server.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network connecting the first node and the first backup server comprises a Local Area Network (LAN), the LAN also connecting the backup storage device to the first node and the first backup server.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network connecting the first node and the first backup server a Local Area Network (LAN), the system further comprising a Storage Area Network (SAN) connecting the first node and the first backup server to the backup storage device.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first backup server is operable to store back up data for a plurality of nodes on the backup storage device.

8. A method for granting or denying access to nodes on a network, comprising:

providing a plurality of backup storage devices, each of the plurality of backup storage devices assigned to store back up data for a selected grouping of the plurality of backup servers;

providing an agent on a first node, the agent operable to control access to data on the first node using a list of backup servers that are permitted to backup data on the first node; and

providing a first backup server coupled to the first node across a network;

upon the first backup server attempting to gain access to the first node, using the agent to identify the first backup server on the list of backup servers;

in response to identifying the first backup server on the list of backup servers, transporting the data from the first node to the backup server; and

storing the data on from the first node on a backup storage device coupled to the backup server by the network.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising prompting a user of the first backup server for a user identification and a password for accessing the first node, when it is determined that the first backup server is allowed access to the first node.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising modifying the list of nodes by locally logging into the first node.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising providing a Local Area Network (LAN) coupling the first node, the first backup server, and the backup storage device.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising

providing a Local Area Network (LAN) coupling the first node and the first backup server;

and

providing a Storage Area Network (SAN) coupling the first backup server to the backup storage device.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising using the first backup server to store back up data for a plurality of nodes on the backup storage device.

14. Logic stored on a computer readable medium, the logic including instructions operable when executed to:

provide a plurality of backup storage devices, each of the plurality of backup storage devices assigned to store back up data for a selected grouping of backup servers;

provide an agent on a first node, the agent operable to control access to data on the first node using a list of backup servers that are permitted to backup data on the first node; and

upon a first backup server coupled to the first node across a network attempting to gain access to the first node, using the agent to identify the first backup server on the list of backup servers;

in response to identifying the first backup server on the list of backup servers, transporting the data from the first node to the backup server; and

storing the data on from the first node on a backup storage device coupled to the backup server by the network.

15. The logic as recited in claim 14, including further instructions operable when executed to:

prompt a user of the first backup server for a user identification and a password for accessing the first node, when it is determined that the first backup server is allowed access to the first node.

16. The logic as recited in claim 14, including further instructions operable when executed to:

modify the list of nodes by locally logging into the first node.

17. The logic as recited in claim 14, wherein a Local Area Network (LAN) couples the first node, the first backup server, and the backup storage device.

18. The logic as recited in claim 14, wherein a Local Area Network (LAN) couples the first node and the first backup server and a Storage Area Network (SAN) couples the first backup server to the backup storage device.

19. The logic as recited in claim 14, including further instructions operable when executed to:

use the first backup server to store back up data for a plurality of nodes on the backup storage device.