Abstract: A backup server controls the backing up of data stored on a mass storage subsystem in response to a backup request from a host identifying data to be backed up during a backup operation, the mass storage subsystem storing data in a plurality of mirrored copies. The backup server comprises a discovery module, a preparation module, an execution module and a clean-up module. The discovery module receives the backup request and identifies, during a discovery phase, at least one storage location on the mass storage subsystem on which data to be backed up during the backup operation is stored. The preparation module, during a preparation phase following the discovery phase, enables the mass storage subsystem to sever one of said mirrored copies and make it available to backup server for the backup operation.

Abstract: A method of attribute based resource allocation is presented. A resource such as a pool of storage has certain properties or attributes associated with portions of the pool. When a request for storage is needed, the requester provides a selection expression which comprises properties and logical operators. From the selection expression a determination is made to allocate portions of the storage pool which meet the requirements of the selection expression.

Abstract: An information recovery system includes mountable data volume replications that can be examined for enhanced error detection and correction.

Abstract: A backup server controls the backing up of data stored on a mass storage subsystem in response to a backup request from a host identifying data to be backed up during a backup operation, the mass storage subsystem storing data in a plurality of mirrored copies. The backup server comprises a discovery module, a preparation module, an execution module and a clean-up module. The discovery module receives the backup request and identifies, during a discovery phase, at least one storage location on the mass storage subsystem on which data to be backed up during the backup operation is stored. The preparation module, during a preparation phase following the discovery phase, enables the mass storage subsystem to sever one of said mirrored copies and make it available to backup server for the backup operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for backing up and restoring data in a computer storage system are disclosed. Data segments are backed up before they are updated. The segments may correspond to physical segments of storage in the computer system. Restoration may proceed by determining which segments have changed since a target time, and retrieving the data backed up from that time. The backups may be stored as differential backups—saving only segments of data that are about to be changed.

Abstract: A file management system is disclosed for managing files stored on a mass storage subsystem in response to file management commands. The mass storage subsystem stores data on at least one storage device, said storage device including a series of blocks. The file management system comprises an operating system-independent file map, a file management command receiver module, and a file management command execution module. The operating system-independent file map stores information identifying, for each file, block information identifying blocks on which the file is stored. The file management command receiver module receives a file management command. The file management command execution module executes the file management command in relation to the operating system-independent file map.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for backing up and restoring data in a computer storage system are disclosed. Changes to segments of memory in a primary copy are tracked. The segments may correspond to how the data is physically stored. Restoration may proceed by returning only those segments that are changed in the primary copy to their state at previous point in time. The backup used for the previous point in time may be a full system backup or a differential backup. A differential backup is one that backs up some segments of memory, but not all of the segments of memory in an element being backed up.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for backing up and restoring data in a computer system is disclosed. A segment of data, such as a virtual disk partition, may be backed up at a physical level from a primary storage device to a backup storage device. A logical element within the segment of data, such as a data file, may be restored from the backup storage device to the primary storage device. In one embodiment, this is achieved by restoring the segment to a scratch memory area and using a client computer to logically restore the logical element.

Abstract: An operating system-independent file map generator generates an operating system-independent map of a file stored on a mass storage subsystem, the mass storage subsystem including at least one storage device, the at least one storage device including a series of blocks, and the file being stored on a least device extent comprising at least one block. The generator comprises a file identifier receiver, a query module and a file map entry generator. The file identifier receiver receives a file identifier for the file. The query module queries a volume manager to obtain disk extent information for the file identified by the file identifier, the disk extent information identifying the at least one extent. The file map entry generator generates a file map entry for the file map for the file, the file map entry including the disk extent information obtained by the query module.