Archiving data objects using secondary copies

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose contents cause a data storage system to perform a method for archiving multiple data objects included in primary copy data, the method comprising:

• obtaining, from a client computing device, both full and incremental backup copies of the client's primary copy data;
• using the received backup copies to create a secondary copy of multiple data objects included in the primary copy data;
• for each of the multiple data objects for which a secondary copy was created, adding an entry for the data object to a first data structure,
• wherein the entry includes an identifier associated with the data object;
• after creating the secondary copy, identifying one or more of the multiple data objects that satisfy one or more predetermined archival criteria;
• and
• for each of the identified one or more data objects:
• looking up the identified data object in a second data structure using the identifier associated with the identified data object;
• receiving a token for the identified data object,
• wherein the token represents a verification that the secondary copy was created;
• and
• replacing the identified data object in the primary copy data with a stub referencing the identified data object within the previously-created
• secondary copy of the multiple data objects,
• wherein the previously-created secondary copy was created in association with another backup job,
• wherein the stub includes the token.

A computer-implemented method for managing backup and archiving of information in an information management system, wherein the information management system includes first and second data storage systems, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• scanning a first data storage system,
• wherein the first storage system includes primary copies of data objects, and
• wherein the scanning includes gathering metadata from the primary copies;
• on a second, different data storage system, creating corresponding secondary copies of the primary copies of the data objects,
• creating a database of the gathered metadata;
• and
• when the primary copies of the data objects meet one or more archiving conditions, generating corresponding tokens for the primary copies of the data objects,
• verifying that previously-created secondary copies of the primary copies of the data objects exist by confirming that corresponding tokens are present in a data structure,
• wherein the data structure is separate from the database of the gathered metadata,
• replacing the data objects in the primary copies with stubs,
• wherein the stubs identify logical locations of the secondary copies in the second data storage system,
• whereby certain data files are archived without creating additional secondary copies, besides the previously-created secondary copies, of the data files.

A system for archiving data objects using secondary copies, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory coupled to the processor;
• a first software component stored on the memory that creates one or more secondary copies of primary copy data that contains multiple data objects;
• a first data structure stored on the memory that contains a mapping between the data objects for which secondary copies have been created and locations of the secondary copies;
• a second data structure stored on the memory that stores, for each data object for which a secondary copy had been created, a unique token;
• and
• a second software component stored on the memory that identifies data objects to be archived, generates corresponding tokens for identified data objects to be archived, verifies that previously-created secondary copies of the identified data objects exist by confirming that corresponding tokens are present in the second data structure, and replaces the identified data objects with stubs.