Method and apparatus for file sharing between continuous and scheduled backups

Apparatus for backing up a source data stored by a computer system, comprising:

• a first backup server configured to generate a periodic backup of a database portion of the source data, wherein
• the source data comprises the database portion and a transaction log portion,
• the transaction log portion comprises two or more transaction logs,
• each of the two or more transaction log comprises changes to the database portion,
• the backup server is configured to perform the periodic backup at scheduled of a backup schedule, and
• the backup server is configured to perform the periodic backup to produce a plurality of partial backups;
• a second backup server configured to continuously back up a transaction log portion of the source data, wherein
• the second backup server is configured to perform the continuously backing up in response to changes to the transaction log portion, and
• the continuously backing up produces a replica of the transaction log portion, wherein
• the replica of the transaction log portion comprises a plurality of replica transaction logs for various points in time the continuous backup is performed, and
• the plurality of replica transaction logs comprise a replica of each of the two or more transaction logs at each point in time the continuous backup is performed;
• and
• a control module configured to
• create a plurality of links to the replica of the transaction log portion of the periodic backups, wherein
• the control module is configured to perform the creating of the plurality of links in response to each of the periodic backups being performed,
• the control module is configured to perform the creating of the plurality of links by determining a subset of the plurality of the replica transaction logs that were periodically backed up for each of the periodic backups, and
• each of the plurality of links points to a respective replica transaction log in the subset, and
• store a plurality of full backups of the source data, wherein
• each of the plurality of the full backups of the source data comprises:
• one of the plurality of partial backups, wherein
• the one of the plurality of partial backups comprises content of the first portion of the source data at one of the points in time of the backup schedule, and
• a respective plurality of links to a respective subset of the plurality of the replica transaction logs, wherein
• the respective plurality of links were created in response to the periodic backup at the one of the points in time of the backup schedule.

A system, comprising:

• a server configured to host at least one service for clients;
• a first storage volume configured to store source data for the server;
• a first backup server configured to generate a periodic backup of a database portion of the source data, wherein
• the source data comprises the database portion and a transaction log portion,
• the transaction log portion comprises two or more transaction logs,
• each of the two or more transaction log comprises changes to the database portion,
• the backup server is configured to perform the periodic backup at scheduled of a backup schedule, and
• the backup server is configured to perform the periodic backup to produce a plurality of partial backups;
• a second backup server configured to continuously back up a transaction log portion of the source data, wherein
• the second backup server is configured to perform the continuously backing up in response to changes to the transaction log portion, and
• the continuously backing up produces a replica of the transaction log portion, wherein
• the replica of the transaction log portion comprises a plurality of replica transaction logs for various points in time the continuous backup is performed, and
• the plurality of replica transaction logs comprise a replica of each of the two or more transaction logs at each point in time the continuous backup is performed;
• and
• a control module configured to
• create a plurality of links to the replica of the transaction log portion of the periodic backups, wherein
• the control module is configured to perform the creating of the plurality of links in response to each of the periodic backups being performed,
• the control module is configured to perform the creating of the plurality of links by determining a subset of the plurality of the replica transaction logs that were periodically backed up for each of the periodic backups, and
• each of the plurality of links points to a respective replica transaction log in the subset, and
• store a plurality of full backups of the source data, wherein
• each of the plurality of the full backups of the source data comprises:
• one of the plurality of partial backups, wherein
• the one of the plurality of partial backups comprises content of the first portion of the source data at one of the points in time of the backup schedule, and
• a respective plurality of links to a respective subset of the plurality of the replica transaction logs, wherein
• the respective plurality of links were created in response to the periodic backup at the one of the points in time of the backup schedule.