Efficient backups using dynamically shared storage pools in peer-to-peer networks

A tangible, computer-readable medium storing program instructions executable to implement a first backup manager configured to:

• subdivide a storage pool into one or more portions of storage designated for local backup data and one or more portions of storage designated for peer-to-peer (P2P) backup data;
• receive a first request from a first backup client to store first local backup data, wherein the first local backup data includes a first plurality of data blocks;
• in response to the first request:
• store the first plurality of data blocks of the first local backup data in a first portion of the storage pool designated for local backup data;
• and
• transmit at least a portion of a P2P version of the first local backup data to each of one or more backup managers implemented by one or more peer devices of a P2P network;
• receive a second request to store second backup data, wherein the second backup data includes a second plurality of data blocks;
• store the second backup data in response to the second request, wherein storing the second backup data comprises replacing one or more particular data blocks of the first local backup data with one or more of the data blocks of the second backup data.

A method implemented by a first backup manager executing in a computer system, the method comprising:

• subdividing a storage pool into one or more portions of storage designated for local backup data and one or more portions of storage designated for peer-to-peer (P2P) backup data;
• receiving a first request from a first backup client to store first local backup data, wherein the first local backup data includes a first plurality of data blocks;
• in response to the first request:
• storing the first plurality of data blocks of the first local backup data in a first portion of the storage pool designated for local backup data;
• and
• transmitting at least a portion of a P2P version of the first local backup data to each of one or more backup managers implemented by one or more peer devices of a P2P network;
• receiving a second request to store second backup data, wherein the second backup data includes a second plurality of data blocks;
• storing the second backup data in response to the second request, wherein storing the second backup data comprises replacing one or more particular data blocks of the first local backup data with one or more of the data blocks of the second backup data.