System and method for storing and retrieving files for archival purposes

A method of operating computer systems including utilizing a storing computer system operating with a first particular operating system to store a data file on a storage medium such that said data file can be recovered from said storage medium by a retrieving computer system operating with a second particular operating system, said method including the steps of:

• storing operating system identification information on said storage medium using said storing computer system, said operating system identification information identifying said first particular operating system;
• creating a directory in said storing computer system for said file and said storage medium, said directory including first and second fields;
• storing data file information from the storing computer system on said storage medium using the storing computer system, said step of storing data file information including storing data file information that is nonspecific to said first particular operating system in one of said fields and storing data file information that is specific to said first particular operating system in the other one of said fields;
• examining said operating system identification information stored on said storage medium in the retrieving computer system, identifying said first particular operating system from said operating system identification information, determining if said second particular operating system is compatible with said first particular operating system identified by said operating system identification information;
• retrieving said data file information in said one of said fields into the retrieving computer system using said second particular operating system only if said second particular operating system is not compatible with said first particular operating system;
• and
• retrieving into the retrieving computer system said data file information in said one of said fields and said data file information in said other of said fields if said second particular operating system is compatible with the operating system identified by said operating system identification information.

A method of operating computer systems including utilizing a storing computer system to store user-created files from a memory device of the storing computer system on a storage medium such that said files are recovered from said storage medium using a retrieving computer system, said storing computer system utilizing a first particular operating system and said retrieving computer system utilizing a second particular operating system, said method including the steps:

• (a) locating a user-created file on said storing computer memory device in said storing computer system;
• (b) creating a directory file, using said storing computer system, for said user-created file and said storage medium, said directory including first and second fields;
• (c) storing data file location information that is nonspecific to said first particular operating system in one of said fields using the storing computer system and storing data file information that is specific to said first particular operating system in the other of said fields using said storing computer system;
• (d) creating a data file for data in said user-created file and storing said data file on said storage medium, at the location identified by said data file location information, using said storing computer system;
• (e) repeating (a) through (d) for the next user-created file on said storing computer memory device;
• and
• (f) storing on said storage medium information identifying said first particular operating system using said storing computer system;
• and
• (g) recovering the data file at the file location identified by information stored in said first field with the retrieving computer system, when the second operating system is not compatible with the first particular operating system, wherein the data file is recovered using an operating system which is not compatible with the first particular operating system.

A method of operating computer systems including utilizing a storing computer system to store a set of user-created files from a memory device of said storing computer system on a magnetic tape such that it is recovered using a restoring computer system, said storing computer system utilizing a first particular operating system and said restoring computer system utilizing a second particular operating system, said method including the steps of:

• (a) locating, using the storing computer system, at least one user-created file in said memory device;
• (b) creating in the storing computer system at least one directory file for said user-created file and storing file information for said at least one user-created file in said directory file;
• (c) creating a data file for data in said at least one user-created file, using the storing computer system, and storing said information pertaining to said at least one user created file in a portion of said data file;
• (d) storing said data file on said magnetic tape using said storing computer system;
• (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for all files selected by a user for storing as a set of files;
• (f) storing in said directory files, using said storing computer system, information sufficient to determine the location of the corresponding data file on said magnetic tape;
• (g) storing said directory files on said magnetic tape using said storing computer system;
• (h) creating a set directory file in said storing computer system for said set of files and storing in said set directory file information pertaining to the location on said magnetic tape of the corresponding directory files;
• and
• (i) storing said set directory file on said magnetic tape using said storing computer system wherein a computer system using said second particular operating system recovers said data file using said file location information when said second particular operating system is not compatible with said first particular operating system.

A storage system for storing user-created files on a storage medium from a storing computer system operating with a first operating system software and for restoring said files to a retrieving computer system operating with a second operating system software, said storage system comprising;

• means in the storing computer system for formatting data information in a user-created file for writing in a data file and writing said data file at a location on a storage medium;
• means in the storing computer system for formatting for and writing to a first portion of a directory file information identifying the name of a user-created file and the location on said medium of the corresponding data file;
• means in the storing computer system for formatting for and writing to a second portion of said directory file information from a user-created file which determines in part the manner in which said first operating system processes data information in user-created files;
• means for writing directory files at a location on a storage medium;
• means in the storing computer system for formatting for and writing to in a set directory file the identity of said first operating system and the location on said medium of the directory files for a set of user-created files and for storing the identity of said first operating system on said medium;
• means in the retrieving computer system for retrieving set directory files and for determining from said set directory files the location of directory files for the set including determining means for determining whether the set was stored from a computer system utilizing said second operating system;
• means in the retrieving computer system for retrieving directory files and for determining from said first portion of the directory file the location on said medium of the corresponding data file;
• means in the retrieving computer system for identifying the second particular operating system and retrieving data files using the second particular system if said first and second particular operating systems are not compatible and for retrieving data files using the second particular operating system if said first and second particular operating system are compatible;
• and
• combining means responsive to said determining means for combining data information in a retrieved data file with the name information in the corresponding directory file and for combining said data and name information with said information in said second portion of the corresponding said directory file if the set was stored by a computer system utilizing said second operating system.

A method of operating a computer system to recover a file which has been retrieved from a storage medium by a different computer having a second and different operating system, said computer system having only a first operating system, said file including information specific to said second operating system, information non-specific to the second operating system and information which identifies said method including the steps of:

• examining said file to identify the second operating system;
• determining if the second operating system is compatible with said first operating system;
• retrieving said file if the second operating system is compatible with said first operating system;
• and
• retrieving only said information which is not specific to the second operating system if said first operating system is not compatible with said second operating system.