US 6,073,128 A · Method and apparatus for identifying files used to restore a file

Abstract

A method and apparatus identifies backup files that will restore a file in a transactional system. A reset stamp and filename is used to identify all backup files of the file having the filename since the file was last restored. A smaller number of files necessary to restore the file are selected from these backup files by sorting the list of files and selecting certain files in sort order. If necessary, earlier reset stamps are identified and more files are identified and selected, until a file is selected that contains a full backup or datafile copy of the file. For the backup files selected, information such as the location of the file is stored in the order in which the backup files are selected. The information, such as the location of each file selected, is provided in an order that is the reverse of the order in which the files were selected so that the oldest file is listed first. The files may be restored in the order provided.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An apparatus for identifying at an output a plurality of files to restore, comprising:

a file list builder module having a first input operatively coupled for receiving a plurality of sets of information corresponding to backup files, a second input operatively coupled for receiving at least one first identifier corresponding to a plurality of files comprising a most recent backup file, the file list builder module for automatically identifying at an output at least one of the sets of information corresponding to the at least one first identifier;
and
a file list scanner module having an input coupled to the file list builder module output, the file list scanner module for identifying and providing at a first output coupled to the apparatus output less than all of the sets of information received at the file list scanner module input.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for identifying a plurality of backup files to restore, each such file having a record, the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to receive at least one first identifier corresponding to a first plurality of backup files comprising at least one file not containing errors;
and
computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to identify the records of the first plurality of backup files corresponding to the at least one first identifier received from records of a second plurality of backup files comprising the first plurality of backup files and at least one additional backup file responsive to receipt of the at least one first identifier.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for identifying files used to restore a file

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for identifying files used to restore a file

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29