Archiving data objects using secondary copies

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

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• a first software component configured to create one or more secondary copies of primary data comprising multiple data objects;
• a first data structure comprising a mapping between the multiple data objects and locations of the one or more secondary copies;
• a second data structure that stores, for each data object for which a secondary copy had been created, a unique token;
• and
• a second software component configured to:
• identify data objects to be archived,
• generate corresponding tokens for identified data objects to be archived,
• verify that previously-created secondary copies of the identified data objects exist by confirming that corresponding tokens are present in the second data structure, and
• replace the identified data objects with stubs.

A computer-implemented method for archiving data objects using secondary copies, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• creating one or more secondary copies of primary data comprising multiple data objects, wherein a mapping between the multiple data objects and locations of the one or more secondary copies is stored in a first data structure;
• and
• with a second software component:
• identifying data objects to be archived,
• generating corresponding tokens for identified data objects to be archived,
• verifying that previously-created secondary copies of the identified data objects exist by confirming that corresponding tokens are present in a second data structure,
• wherein the second data structure, for each data object for which a secondary copy had been created, stores a unique token, and
• replacing the identified data objects with stubs.