Generic file level restore from a block-level secondary copy

A method for restoring data, comprising:

• with a first computing device residing in a data storage system,
• using an interface object to obtain file system metadata corresponding to a block-level secondary copy, the block-level secondary copy including a plurality of files stored across a plurality of blocks on one or more secondary storage devices;
• processing the obtained file system metadata with a processor of the first computing device to mount the block-level secondary copy onto the first computing device;
• in response to a request to restore at least one first file of the plurality of files of the block-level secondary copy, using the interface object to request a read from the one or more secondary storage devices of one or more first blocks of the plurality of blocks, the first blocks corresponding to the first file,
• wherein the interface object initiates retrieval of the one or more first blocks from the one or more secondary storage devices, and
• wherein the first file is copied, using the one or more first blocks, to one or more primary storage devices associated with the first computing device.

A system, comprising:

• a first computing device;
• and
• an interface object instantiated as software on the first computing device, the interface object facilitating access by the first computing device to a block-level secondary copy of file system data,
• wherein the first computing device is configured to:
• use the interface object to obtain file system metadata corresponding to the block-level secondary copy, the block-level secondary copy representing a plurality of files stored across a plurality of blocks on one or more secondary storage devices;
• process the obtained file system metadata to mount the block-level secondary copy onto the first computing device;
• in response to a request to restore at least one first file of the plurality of files of the block-level secondary copy, request from the one or more secondary storage devices one or more first blocks of the plurality of blocks, the first blocks corresponding to the first file,
• wherein the one or more first blocks are retrieved from secondary storage and copied to primary storage associated with the first computing device.

Non-transitory computer storage comprising instructions which, when executed, direct a computer system coupled to the computer storage to perform a method comprising:

• with a first computing device residing in a data storage system,
• using an interface object to obtain file system metadata corresponding to a block-level secondary copy, the block-level secondary copy including a plurality of files stored across a plurality of blocks on one or more secondary storage devices;
• processing the obtained file system metadata with a processor of the first computing device to mount the block-level secondary copy onto the first computing device;
• in response to a request to restore at least one first file of the plurality of files of the block-level secondary copy, using the interface object to request a read from the one or more secondary storage devices of one or more first blocks of the plurality of blocks, the first blocks corresponding to the first file,
• wherein the interface object initiates retrieval of the one or more first blocks from the one or more secondary storage devices, and
• wherein the first file is copied, using the one or more first blocks, to one or more primary storage devices associated with the first computing device.