Data backup and restoration using dynamic virtual storage

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage system having one or more physical storage devices;
• and
• a controller coupled to the processor and the storage system, wherein the controller maintains a virtual storage map (VSM) allocating a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage within a storage system.

A method comprising:

• storing a virtual storage map (VSM) to allocate a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage within a storage system;
• receiving requests from a processor to access the storage system;
• and
• selectively filtering unsupported requests including unpublished vendor-specific requests.

A method comprising:

• storing a virtual storage map (VSM) to allocate a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage;
• storing a record of locations of the secondary virtual storage to which data has been written after a time T0;
• receiving a save command via a wireless communication;
• and
• adjusting the VSM in response to the save command.

An apparatus comprising:

• a computer-readable medium to store a virtual storage map (VSM) allocating a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage within a storage system;
• an input/output (I/O);
• and
• a control unit to update the VSM in response to a save command;
• wherein the controller requires a user to select an operating mode from a default lock mode prior to accepting a save command.

A method comprising:

• storing a virtual storage map (VSM) to define a set of storage units for a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage;
• storing history data indicating a sequence of save and restore commands;
• and
• storing version data for the storage units of secondary virtual storage, wherein the version data associates one of the commands within the history data with each of the storage units of the secondary virtual storage.