Remote backup and restore operations for ISB protocol systems

A method for performing scheduled backups of data generated by a production application operating on a first platform located on a host computer, the first platform operating on an operating system of the host computer, the data being stored on a production volume in a primary storage that is remote from the host computer, the first platform creating a clone volume of the production volume, the operating system booting off a local hard drive and the first platform booting off of the production volume such that the operating system cannot access the first platform or production application to perform backup operations because of the production volume being stored remotely and the first platform being unable to perform backup operations, the method comprising:

• the proxy server receiving a backup command from a backup server;
• the proxy server sending a split command to a host computer to initiate splitting of a production volume and a clone volume, wherein the proxy server is separate from the host computer and wherein the splitting of the production volume and the clone volume creates a temporary state that enables the proxy host to communicate directly with the primary storage;
• the proxy server receiving an identification of the clone volume;
• the proxy server preparing the clone volume for surfacing and mounting;
• and
• the proxy server performing a backup of the surfaced and mounted clone volume to a backup storage.

A method for using a recovery volume in a disaster recovery site to enable data generated by a production application operating on a first platform located on a recovery host computer to be stored in a production volume and a clone volume, the first platform operating on an operating system of the recovery host computer, the first platform communicating with the production volume and clone volume, the operating system booting off a local hard drive and the first platform booting off of the production volume such that the operating system cannot access the first platform or production application to directly perform recovery operations and the first platform being unable to perform recovery operations, the method comprising:

• a backup server creating a disaster recovery site including a recovery host computer and a recovery volume created from a copy of a first clone volume stored at a remote storage, the recovery volume being stored on a storage device of the disaster recovery site;
• the backup server causing a proxy host to communicate with the disaster recovery site such that the backup server need not communicate directly with the disaster recovery site, wherein the proxy host is in communication with the recovery volume and the recovery host computer;
• and
• the proxy host performing restore operations using the recovery volume such that a production volume and a second clone volume are configured to be operational with the recovery host computer.