Method, system, program, and data structures for naming full backup versions of files and related deltas of the full backup versions

A system for performing a backup operation of a target file, comprising:

• means for initiating at least one operation to perform at least one delta backup of the target file to at least one delta backup set, wherein the at least one delta backup set includes changes made to a version of a full backup set of the target file generated at a first time;
• means for assigning the at least one delta backup set a name component indicating the version of the full backup set generated at the first time subject to the delta backup;
• means for initiating an operation to perform a full backup of the target file to a version of the full backup set at a second time, wherein the second time follows the first time, and wherein generating the full backup set of the target file at the second time renders inactive the full backup set generated at the first time;
• and
• upon rendering inactive the full backup set generated at the first time,
• means for determining all delta backup sets having the name component indicating the version of the full backup generated at the first time during the full backup operation at the second time;
• and
• means for initiating an operation to render inactive each determined delta backup set having the name component indicating the version of the full backup set generated at the first time, wherein the inactive delta backup sets may be expired, and wherein the delta backup sets are inactivated at a same time as the full backup set generated at the first time is inactivated.

An article of manufacture for use in programming a computer for performing a backup operation of a target file, the article of manufacture comprising computer usable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes the computer to perform:

• initiating at least one operation to perform at least one delta backup of the target file to at least one delta backup set, wherein the at least one delta backup set includes changes made to a version of a full backup set of the target file generated at a first time;
• assigning the at least one delta backup set a name component indicating the version of the full backup set generated at the first time subject to the delta backup;
• initiating an operation to perform a full backup of the target file to a version of the full backup set at a second time, wherein the second time follows the first time, and wherein generating the full backup set of the target file at the second time renders inactive the full backup set generated at the first time;
• and
• upon rendering inactive the full backup set generated at the first time,
• determining all delta backup sets having the name component indicating the version of the full backup set generated at the first time during the full backup operation at the second time;
• and
• initiating an operation to render inactive the at least one determined delta backup set having the name component indicating the version of the full backup set generated at the first time, wherein the inactive delta backup sets may be expired, and wherein the delta backup sets are inactivated at a same time as the full backup set generated at the first time is inactivated.