Virtual machine data replication

Apparatus for performing data restoration from a backup set to a target device, comprising:

• a processor configured to operably communicate with a backup set and a target device;
• and
• a data backup module including a set of instructions executable on the processor for performing a method of data restoration comprising the steps of:
• identifying a backup data block of the backup set corresponding to a target data block of the target device;
• computing a hash value corresponding to the backup data block;
• determining whether the computed hash value is equal to a stored hash value corresponding to the backup data block;
• and
• causing the backup set to be written in its entirety to the target device responsive to a determination that the computed hash value does not equal the stored hash value.

A method for restoring to a first storage device virtual machine file data from a second storage device containing a backup set of the virtual machine data file, comprising the steps of:

• identifying at least one backup set associated with a backup data block;
• identifying the hash file name of the backup data block of the backup set corresponding to a file to be restored;
• computing a hash value corresponding to a backup data block;
• determining whether the computed hash value is equal to a stored hash value corresponding to the hash file name of a backup data block;
• and
• causing the at least one backup set associated with a backup data block to be flagged in response to a determination that the computed hash value does not equal the stored hash value.