Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for performing file backup operations are described. The method may operate to enable a user of a computer system to provide a password or other authentication information to associate with files on the computer system, e.g., in order to protect files that are backed up. For example, when the user (or another person or software agent) attempts to restore or otherwise access a backup copy of a password-protected file, the user may be prompted to enter the password. The method may operate to verify that the entered password matches the password associated with the file before granting permission to restore the file.

Abstract: System and method for managing metadata. A computer system includes one or more hosts, each host having an associated backup agent. Each backup agent conveys data from its associated host to a storage pool and stores metadata associated with the data in a metabase. In response to detecting that a first metabase meets a first condition, the system identifies a backup agent that has stored metadata in the first metabase and redistributes at least a portion of the metadata to a second metabase. In one embodiment, the first condition comprises detecting the amount of metadata stored in the first metabase reaching a threshold value. In a further embodiment, the metadata comprises entries, each of which corresponds to a data file. Each entry includes a fingerprint that is derived from and identifies the corresponding data file. The fingerprints identifying the data files may be encrypted.

Abstract: A system and method for managing single instance storage. A computer system includes at least two backup servers, each backup server included in a single-instance storage pool. A first backup server conveys a first de-duplicated list identifying data segments from the first storage pool to a second backup server. The first backup server receives from the second backup server a second de-duplicated list identifying a subset of the data segments and conveys the subset of the data segments to the second backup server. In response to receiving the first list from the first backup server, the second backup server de-duplicates the first list against a second storage pool and conveys the second list to the first backup server. In response to receiving the subset of the data segments, the second backup server adds the received data segments to the second storage pool.