System and apparatus for managing files

A file management apparatus comprising:

• a media storage unit that accommodates removable storage media each storing index data for use by a file system;
• a drive that reads and writes data in a removable storage medium loaded therein;
• and
• a processor configured to perform a procedure including:
• reading the index data from each of the removable storage media by using the drive, and sending the index data to an information processing apparatus coupled to the file management apparatus,
• determining a right time to make a backup of index data, based on a recovery time objective that specifies a duration of time for recovery from a system failure, and
• sending a timing message to the information processing apparatus to indicate the determined right time.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform a procedure comprises:

• reading index data from removable storage media by using a drive, and sending the index data to an information processing apparatus, the index data being for use by a file system;
• determining a right time for the information processing apparatus to make a backups of the index data, based on a recovery time objective that specifies a duration of time for recovery from a system failure;
• and
• sending a timing message to the information processing apparatus to indicate the determined right time.