Apparatus and method for file backup using multiple backup devices
AssigneeExanet, Inc.
InventorsAmnon A. Strasser, Nir Peleg, Robert Hofner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for file system backup using multiple backup devices in parallel. The system stores files across the backup devices, by first copying small files of sizes below a calculated threshold size, and then splitting into segments those files that are larger then the calculated threshold size. For each file segment, the system affixes a unique segment header. At restore time, a restore program starts the restore from the first file segment and follows to the next file segment according to information specified in the file segment header.
Claims94
A computer network backup system comprising:
- at least two backup devices;
- at least one file source;
- a control unit comprising a control program that directs files from said file source to said backup devices, wherein said control program splits files into file segments, thereby equalizing the archival load between said backup devices;
- a communications link coupled between said backup devices, said file source and said control unit.
A method for file backup using a parallel backup system comprising at least one file source and at least two backup devices, the method comprising:
- calculating a segmentation threshold value;
- and
- directing said files from said file source to said backup devices.
A computer software product for a parallel backup system comprising at least a file source and at least two backup devices, the computer program product comprising:
- software instructions for enabling said parallel backup system to perform predetermined operations, and a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions, said predetermined operations comprising:
- calculating a segmentation threshold value;
- and
- directing said files from said file source to said backup devices.
A computer system adapted for parallel backup of at least a file source and at least two backup devices, the computer system comprising:
- at least a file source and at least two backup devices interconnected by a communications link;
- a memory comprising software instructions adapted to enable the computer system to perform:
- calculating a segmentation threshold value;
- and
- directing said files from said file source to said backup devices.
A method for calculating a size threshold in a parallel backup system comprising at least a file source and at least two backup devices, the method comprising:
- summing the sizes of all files in said file source;
- and
- dividing the result by the number of available backup devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.