Method for extracting and storing records of data backup activity from a plurality of backup devices

An automatic refresh request generation system for a data backup system, comprising:

• a computer network with data backup activity performed by a plurality of data backup products wherein each data backup product generates records relating to the data backup activity;
• and
• a host computer connected to the computer network that executes a canonical backup device, the canonical backup device further comprising:
• a backup engine plug-in that obtains records of data backup activity from each data backup product and consolidate the records in a database;
• and
• a refresh request unit that operates in the background of the host computer, the refresh request unit further comprising:
• a timer that determines if an hour of the current day has changed since a previous refresh request,
• means for checking a string of values to determine if a refresh request is to be created, and
• means for creating the refresh request for a particular server-backup product combination.

An automatic refresh request generation method for a data backup system having a plurality of data backup products, each data backup product connected to a computer network and each data backup product generating records relating to the data backup activity for the data backup product, the method comprising:

• obtaining records of data backup activity from each data backup product;
• consolidating the records in a database that allows cross-referencing between records from the plurality of data backup products;
• and
• automatically requesting the refresh of a particular data backup product, comprising determining if an hour of the current day has changed, checking a string of values to determine if a refresh request for the particular server is automatically initiated and initiating a refresh for a particular server-backup product combination if the refresh request has been initiated by inserting a record into the database.

A system for inserting records from one or more data backup products into a canonical database, comprising:

• a computer network with data backup activity performed by a plurality of data backup products wherein each data backup product generates records relating to the data backup activity;
• a host computer connected to the computer network that executes a canonical backup device;
• and the canonical backup device further comprising:
• a backup engine plug-in that obtains records of data backup activity from each data backup product;
• and
• a database insertion unit that inserts the data from each record of a data backup product into a canonical database that allows cross-referencing between records from the plurality of data backup products, the database insertion unit further comprising means for inserting data from the record into a data backup portion, means for inserting data from the record into a backup client portion, means for inserting data from the record into a backup target portion, means for inserting data from the record into a backup device name portion and means for inserting data from the record into a backup level portion.

A system for inserting records from a plurality of data backup products having different formats into a canonical database, the system comprising:

• a computer network with data backup activity performed by a plurality of data backup products wherein each data backup product generates records relating to the data backup activity;
• a host computer connected to the computer network that executes a canonical backup device;
• and
• the canonical backup device further comprising a backup engine plug-in that will obtain records of data backup activity from each data backup product and a database insertion unit that inserts the data from each record of a data backup product into a canonical database, the database insertion unit further comprising means for inserting data from the record into a data backup table having a backup time and date field, a server name field, a client name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field, a target name field, a backup product name field, a backup level field, a backup canonical name field, a backup local data and time field, a backup bytes field, a backup file number field, a backup error count field, a days of week field, an hour of the day field and a backup volume field, means for inserting data from the record into a backup client table having a client name field, a server name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field and a client owner field, means for inserting data from the record into a backup target table having a server name field, a client name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field, a target name field, an ignore field and a ignore until field, means for inserting data from the record into a backup device name table having a backup product name field and means for inserting data from the record into a backup level table having a backup product name field, a backup level field and a backup canonical level field.

A device for inserting records from one or more data backup products into a canonical database, each data backup product connected to a computer network and each data backup product generating records relating to the data backup activity for the data backup product, the device comprising:

• a backup engine plug-in that will obtain records of data backup activity from each data backup product;
• and
• a database insertion unit that inserts the data from each record of a data backup product into a canonical database, the database insertion unit further comprising means for inserting data from the record into a data backup table having a backup time and date field, a server name field, a client name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field, a target name field, a backup product name field, a backup level field, a backup canonical name field, a backup local data and time field, a backup bytes field, a backup file number field, a backup error count field, a days of week field, an hour of the day field and a backup volume field, means for inserting data from the record into a backup client table having a client name field, a server name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field and a client owner field, means for inserting data from the record into a backup target table having a server name field, a client name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field, a target name field, an ignore field and an ignore until field, means for inserting data from the record into a backup device name table having a backup product name field and means for inserting data from the record into a backup level table having a backup product name field, a backup level field and a backup canonical level field.

A method for inserting records from one or more data backup products into a canonical database, each data backup product connected to a computer network and each data backup product generating records relating to the data backup activity for the data backup product, the method comprising:

• obtaining records of data backup activity from each data backup product;
• and
• inserting the data from each record of a data backup product into a canonical database, a database/assertion comprising inserting data from the record into a data backup table having a backup time and date field, a server name field, a client name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field, a target name field, a backup product name field, a backup level field, a backup canonical name field, a backup local data and time field, a backup bytes field, a backup file number field, a backup error count field, a days of week field, an hour of the day field and a backup volume field, inserting data from the record into a backup client table having a client name field, a server name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field and a client owner field, inserting data from the record into a backup target table having a server name field, a client name field, a client host name field, a client nickname field, a target name field, an ignore field and an ignore until field, inserting data from the record into a backup device name table having a backup product name field and inserting data from the record into a backup level table having a backup product name field, a backup level field and a backup canonical level field.