Administration of a differential backup system in a client-server environment

A method for administration of a differential file back up system on a client-server system wherein the server includes a first memory storage device and a second memory device coupled thereto, the first memory device storing a plurality of archive files, each archive file storing at least a portion of a backup file, wherein the backup file comprises a plurality of component files that include a base file and at least one delta file, and wherein the plurality of component files associated with the backup file are stored in a first arrangement among one or more archive files, the first arrangement having a first number of access points associated with the backup file of interest on the first memory device, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a subset of the plurality of archive files that contain one or more components of a backup file of interest;
• reading, by the server, the selected archive files;
• writing, by the server, the selected archive files into the second memory device;
• processing, by the server, the components of the backup file of interest to enable the components of the backup file of interest to be arranged such that a second number of access points associated with the backup file of interest is less than the first number of access points associated with the backup file of interest;
• and
• writing, by the server, the processed components of the backup file of interest into a new archive file on the first memory device.

A method for self healing a differential file back up system on a client-server system wherein the server includes a first memory storage device and a second memory device coupled thereto, and wherein a backup file comprises a plurality of component files that include a base file having a first creation data and a plurality of delta files having a plurality of creation dates later than the first creation date, and wherein the base file and at least one delta file are stored on the first memory device in a first arrangement having a first number of access points on the first memory device, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a backup file of interest from the first memory device having a predetermined number of delta files after the creation date of the base file;
• reading from the first memory device, the components of the selected backup file of interest;
• writing the components of the selected backup file of interest to the second memory device;
• reconstructing by the server the most recent version of the backup file from the file components in the second memory device;
• detecting if the reconstruction failed;
• in the event that the reconstruction failed
• requesting the client retransmit the most recent version of the file corresponding of the backup file of interest;
• retransmitting by the client the most recent version of the file corresponding of the backup file of interest;
• receiving by the server the retransmitted file from the client;
• replacing the components of the selected backup file of interest in the second memory device with the received file;
• and
• writing the received file from the second memory device to the first memory device in place of the components of the selected backup file of interest.

A method for self healing a differential file back up system on a client-server system including a client, a first server, and a second server, wherein the first server includes a first memory storage device and a second memory device coupled thereto and the mirror server includes first and second memory devices coupled thereto, and wherein both the first and mirror server are coupled to one another and to the client, and wherein a backup file comprises a plurality of component files that include a base file having a first creation data and a plurality of delta files having a plurality of creation dates later than the first creation date, and wherein the base file and at least one delta file are stored on the first memory device in a first arrangement having a first number of access points on the first memory device of both the first server and the mirror server respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a backup file of interest from the first memory device having a predetermined number of delta files after the creation date of the base file;
• reading from the first memory device, the components of the selected backup file of interest;
• writing the components of the selected backup file of interest to the second memory device;
• reconstructing by the server the most recent version of the backup file from the file components in the second memory device;
• detecting if the reconstruction failed;
• in the event that the reconstruction failed
• requesting the mirror server retransmit the most recent version of the file corresponding of the backup file of interest;
• retransmitting by the mirror server the most recent version of the file corresponding of the backup file of interest;
• receiving by the server the retransmitted file from the client;
• replacing the components of the selected backup file of interest in the second memory device with the received file;
• and
• writing the received file from the second memory device to the first memory device in place of the components of the selected backup file of interest.

A method for administration of a differential file back up system on a client-server system including a first server, a mirror server, and a client all coupled together, and wherein the first server and the mirror server both include a first memory storage device, a second memory device and a disk database coupled thereto, and wherein a backup file comprises a plurality of component files that include a base file and at least one delta file, and wherein each component file has a corresponding plurality of data stored within the disk database, and wherein the base file and at least one delta file are stored on the first memory device of both the first server and the mirror server in a first arrangement having a first number of access points on the first memory device, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading by the first server of the plurality of data contained within the disk database coupled thereto;
• reading by the mirror server of the plurality of data contained within the disk database coupled thereto;
• sorting by the first server the plurality of data according to a predetermined key;
• sorting by the mirror server the plurality of data according to a predetermined key;
• comparing the sorted plurality of data of the first server and the mirror server;
• in the event that a component of a backup file is present on the mirror server and not on the first server, transmitting by the mirror server to the first server the missing component;
• and
• in the event that a component of a backup file is present on the first server and not on the mirror server, transmitting by the mirror server to the first server the missing component.

A method for administration of a differential file back up system on a client-server system wherein the server includes a first memory storage device and a second memory device coupled thereto, the first memory device storing a plurality of archive files, each archive file being associated with one of a plurality of accounts and each archive file storing at least a portion of a backup file associated with the one of the plurality of accounts, wherein the plurality of archive files are stored in a first arrangement and each of the plurality of accounts have a first number of access points associated therewith on the first memory device, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a subset of the plurality of archive files that are associated with one or more accounts;
• reading, by the server, the selected archive files;
• writing, by the server, the selected archive files into the second memory device;
• processing, by the server, the archive files to be arranged such that a second number of access points associated with the plurality of archive files associated with an account of interest is less than the first number of access points associated with account of interest;
• and
• writing, by the server, the processed plurality of archive files on the first memory device.

A method for administration of a differential file backup system on a client-server system wherein the server includes a memory storage device coupled thereto, and wherein a backup file comprises a plurality of component files that include a base file and at least one delta file, and wherein the base file and at least one delta file are stored on the memory device in a first arrangement having a first number of access points on the first memory device, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading, by the server from the memory device, a first plurality of data including at least one base and at least one delta files;
• processing, by the server the first plurality of data in the second memory device, to rearrange the first plurality of data into a second arrangement such that the plurality of components of the backup file have a second number of access points that are less than the first number of access points of the first arrangement;
• and
• writing, by the server to the memory device, the first plurality of data in the second arrangement.