Data duplication system and backup method

A data duplication system comprising;

• a first storage having a first volume for reading and writing data by an external device, and a first data protection area for storing backup images of multiple generations of the first volume and that cannot be accessed by external devices;
• a second storage being coupled to the first storage and a host performing data verification;
• and
• a third storage being coupled to the first storage,
• wherein the first storage creates a second volume for providing a backup image of a particular generation of the multiple generations of the first volume stored in the first data protection area,
• wherein the second storage creates a third volume for storing data comprising the backup image of the particular generation of the first volume provided by the second volume,
• wherein the third storage:
• creates a fourth volume for storing data comprising the backup image of the Particular generation of the first volume;
• creates a second virtual volume forming a pair that copies the data comprising the backup image of the particular generation to the fourth volume;
• makes the second volume accessible via the second virtual volume by mapping the second virtual volume as an external source and the second volume as an external destination;
• reads data of backup image in the second volume through the second virtual volume by copying data from the second virtual volume to the fourth volume;
• and
• stores the data comprising the backup image of the particular generation in the fourth volume.

A backup method for a data replication system comprising a first storage having a first volume for reading and writing data by an external device, and a first data protection area for storing backup images of multiple generations of the first volume and the first data protection area cannot be accessed by external devices, a second storage being coupled to the first storage, the method comprising the steps of:

• the first storage:
• creates a second volume for providing backup image of a particular generation of the multiple generations of the first volume stored in the first data protection area;
• and
• the second storage:
• creates a third volume for storing data comprising the backup image of the particular generation of the first volume provided by the second volume;
• creates a first virtual volume forming a pair that copies the data of the backup image of the particular generation to the third volume;
• makes the second volume accessible via the first virtual volume by mapping the first virtual volume as an external source and the second volume as an external destination;
• reads a backup image of the second volume through the first virtual volume by copying data from the first virtual volume to the third volume;
• and
• stores the data comprising the backup image of the particular generation of the first volume in said third volume by writing to said third volume.

A backup method for a data replication system comprising a first storage having a first volume for reading and writing data by an external device, and a first data protection area for storing backup images of multiple generations of the first volume and that cannot be accessed by external devices the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a second storage being coupled to the first storage and a host performing data verification;
• and
• coupling a third storage to the first storage,
• wherein the first storage creates a second volume for providing a backup image of a particular generation of the multiple generations of the first volume stored in the first data protection area,
• wherein the second storage creates a third volume for storing data comprising the backup image of the particular generation of the first volume provided by the second volume,
• wherein the third storage:
• creates a fourth volume for storing data comprising the backup image of the Particular generation of the first volume;
• creates a second virtual volume forming a pair that copies the data comprising the backup image of the particular generation to the fourth volume;
• makes the second volume accessible via the second virtual volume by mapping the second virtual volume as an external source and the second volume as an external destination;
• reads data of backup image in the second volume through the second virtual volume by copying data from the second virtual volume to the fourth volume;
• and
• stores the data comprising the backup image of the particular generation in the fourth volume.