Abstract: A system and method for efficient dynamic browsing of virtualized backup images. A client computer sends to a backup server a request to open a browse session for a given backup image stored on a backup medium which may be a virtual disk file. The virtual disk file is typically locked by a hypervisor for protection against consistency problems. A backup application creates a virtual copy for the given backup image if it doesn't already exist. The backup application directs each of a virtual file filter and the hypervisor to open the virtual copy in order to obtain information for later redirections and to create a lock file for the virtual copy. The backup application and the virtual file filter route access requests to the given backup image and the virtual copy based on the of access request.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating features of system recovery environments during restore operations may include (1) identifying an automated backup tool capable of backing up system state data of a computing system, (2) detecting a backup operation performed on the computing system, (3) determining, during the backup operation, that the computing system includes (i) a boot volume that supports an operating system of the computing system and (ii) at least one separate recovery volume that facilitates the use of at least one feature of a system recovery environment, and then (4) directing the automated backup tool to back up the separate recovery volume as system state data to enable the system recovery environment to provide the feature based at least in part on the separate recovery volume during a restore of the computing system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A virtual disk can be created by using data from critical sectors of a primary physical disk. The creation of a virtual disk involves receiving sector numbers and corresponding data for critical sectors of a primary physical disk on a primary computing system, creating a virtual disk that comprises sectors, and writing data from the critical sectors of the primary physical disk into respective sectors of the virtual disk.

Abstract: A method for converting a physical file system to a virtual file system of a virtual machine. The method includes initiating a new incremental physical to virtual conversion process, and analyzing a history of a plurality of prior incremental conversions to determine whether there exists at least one prior incremental conversion that failed. Upon determination that a prior failed incremental conversion occurred, the method further includes determining a correct chronological order of the plurality of prior incremental conversions, and determining an original failure point and any subsequent failure points. The prior incremental conversions are re-applied from each of said original failure point and said subsequent failure points in the correct chronological order with the most recent incremental conversion re-applied last.

Abstract: A method for converting a physical file system to a virtual file system of a virtual machine. The method includes initiating a new incremental physical to virtual conversion process, and analyzing a history of a plurality of prior incremental conversions to determine whether there exists at least one prior incremental conversion that failed. Upon determination that a prior failed incremental conversion occurred, the method further includes determining a correct chronological order of the plurality of prior incremental conversions, and determining an original failure point and any subsequent failure points. The prior incremental conversions are re-applied from each of said original failure point and said subsequent failure points in the correct chronological order with the most recent incremental conversion re-applied last.

Abstract: A virtual disk can be created by using data from critical sectors of a primary physical disk. The creation of a virtual disk involves receiving sector numbers and corresponding data for critical sectors of a primary physical disk on a primary computing system, creating a virtual disk that comprises sectors, and writing data from the critical sectors of the primary physical disk into respective sectors of the virtual disk.