Abstract: A computer-implemented method for restoring application data may include (1) identifying a virtual disk image used by a virtual machine to represent a volume of data within the virtual machine used for storage by an application within the virtual machine, (2) identifying a request to back up the virtual disk image, and, in response to the request, (3) identifying, within the volume of data, at least one file including application data used by the application, (4) generating application metadata and a catalog associating a logical view of the application data with the file, the logical view being based on application logic of the application, (5) backing up the virtual disk image, and (6) associating the catalog with the backed up virtual disk image. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a consistent view of previously backed up data. In one embodiment, a point in time copy of a set of data is requested. The point in time copy includes a base image of the set of data and additional data corresponding to transactions targeted to the set of data which are received during creation of the point in time copy. A subset of the additional data usable to generate a consistent view of the set of data from the base image is determined. A file that includes a set of changes to the base image represented by the subset is created and stored in association with the base image. Responsive to a request for access to the copy, the previously stored subset is utilized to create a consistent virtual view of the copy from the base image.