Backup proxy

A system for storing data comprising:

• at least one processor configured to
• invoke a proxy at a data server, either through an instruction to spawn the proxy received from a remote computer or through a command line indicator, wherein the proxy is configured to receive and send backup data;
• determine whether or not the proxy has been spawned;
• when it is determined that the proxy has not been spawned:
• assume incoming data is a standard input, and
• receive, by the proxy, the backup data from the standard input;
• when it is determined that the proxy has been spawned:
• send a request for a save session to a backup server,
• listen to a connection for an IP address and a port,
• provide the IP address and the port to proxy spawner software and
• receive, by the proxy, the backup data via the IP address and the port;
• send the backup data from a data sender software process to the proxy over a first backup protocol;
• send the backup data from the proxy to a storage medium over a second backup protocol;
• and
• send index data of the backup data from the data sender software process to the backup server by a route independent of the data server and the proxy;
• wherein the second backup protocol provides additional functionality that is not provided in the first backup protocol, the additional functionality comprising:
• multiple levels of reliability such that if one data transport method fails then a next possible way of transporting data is automatically employed, allowing for tape alerts, and multiplexing to tape;
• and
• a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory provides the processor with instructions.

A computer program product for storing data, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• invoking a proxy at a data server, either through an instruction to spawn the proxy received from a remote computer or through a command line indicator, wherein the proxy is configured to receive and send backup data;
• determining whether or not the proxy has been spawned;
• when it is determined that the proxy has not been spawned:
• assuming incoming data is a standard input, and
• receiving, by the proxy, the backup data from the standard input;
• when it is determined that the proxy has been spawned:
• sending a request for a save session to a backup server,
• listening to a connection for an IP address and a port,
• providing the IP address and the port to proxy spawner software, and
• receiving, by the proxy, the backup data via the IP address and the port;
• sending the backup data from a data sender software process to the proxy over a first backup protocol;
• sending the backup data from the proxy to a storage medium over a second backup protocol;
• and
• sending index data of the backup data from the data sender software process to the backup server by a route independent of the data server and the proxy;
• wherein the second backup protocol provides additional functionality that is not provided in the first backup protocol, the additional functionality comprising:
• multiple levels of reliability such that if one data transport method fails then a next possible way of transporting data is automatically employed, allowing for tape alerts, and multiplexing to tape.