Tiered database storage and replication

A computer-implemented method of operating a storage network, the method comprising:

• storing a first production section of a production database on a first tier production storage system;
• storing a second production section of the production database on a second tier production storage system;
• storing a first backup section of a backup database on a first tier backup storage system;
• storing a second backup section of the backup database a second tier backup storage system;
• replicating the first production section on the first tier production storage system to the first backup section on the first tier backup storage system at a first frequency;
• and
• replicating the second production section on the second tier production storage system to the second backup section on the second tier backup storage system at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency;
• wherein the first production section comprises a first collection of production data, wherein each of the first collection of production data is associated with a first time frame, and wherein the second production section comprises a second collection of production data, wherein each of the second collection of production data is associated with a second time frame older than the first time frame;
• wherein the second time frame immediately precedes the first time frame;
• wherein the first time frame and the second time frame each comprises a movable time frame defined in relation to a current time;
• wherein the method further comprises transferring data within the first production section on the first tier production storage system no longer associated with the first time frame to the second production section on the second tier production storage system;
• and
• wherein replicating the second production section on the second tier production storage system to the second backup section on the second tier backup storage system comprises transferring data within the first backup section on the first tier backup storage system no longer associated with the first time frame to the second backup section on the second tier backup storage system.

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for operating a storage control system, the computer executable instructions, when executed by a computer system, directing the computer system to:

• store a first production section of a production database on a first tier production storage system, store a second production section of the production database on a second tier production storage system, store a first backup section of a backup database on a first tier backup storage system, store a second backup section of the backup database a second tier backup storage system, replicate the first production section on the first tier production storage system to the first backup section on the first tier backup storage system at a first frequency, and replicate the second production section on the second tier production storage system to the second backup section on the second tier backup storage system at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency;
• wherein the first production section comprises a first collection of production data, wherein each of the first collection of production data is associated with a first time frame, and wherein the second production section comprises a second collection of production data, wherein each of the second collection of production data is associated with a second time frame older than the first time frame;
• wherein the second time frame immediately precedes the first time frame;
• wherein the first time frame and the second time frame each comprises a movable time frame defined in relation to a current time;
• wherein the computer executable instructions direct the computer system to transfer data within the first production section on the first tier production storage system no longer associated with the first time frame to the second production section on the second tier production storage system;
• and
• wherein the computer executable instructions direct the computer system to replicate the second production section on the second tier production storage system to the second backup section on the second tier backup storage system by directing the computer system to transfer data within the first backup section on the first tier backup storage system no longer associated with the first time frame to the second backup section on the second tier backup storage system.