Abstract: A method, computer program product and apparatus are provided for data backup and recovery in a computer system. The data backup and recovery method uses a plurality of tape drives in parallel. A unique token is associated with each data object being saved to a tape media. While saving backup data to the plurality of tape drives, a dynamic load balancer dynamically balances the load between the plurality of tape drives. While recovering backup data from tape media, the unique token is utilized for processing tape media files in any order. Data segments of one or more objects are distributed across the parallel tape devices and are non-serial across the tape media files used. When recovering backup data from tape media, the same number or fewer tape drives than used during data saving can be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for moving a unit of data (such as an object, program, or file) from a computer operating at a current release level N to a computer operating at a previous release level N-M in a manner that assures that the unit of data will function predictably when restored to the previous release without having to make modifications or updates to the N-M level computer system. This invention allows a new release to be gradually phased in for a distributed computing system instead of requiring that all computers be upgraded to the new release before any units of data can be moved between systems.