System and method for conveying backup and restore data via email

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions executable to:

• receive a request to perform a restore, wherein
• the request comprises a restore email that specifies restore data;
• automatically generate an email in response to the request, wherein
• the email comprises the restore data and metadata,
• a portion of the restore data and the metadata is included in an attachment to the email,
• the restore data is stored on backup media,
• the metadata is associated with the restore data, and
• the email is addressed to a backup client;
• detect whether the backup client is connected to a network;
• and
• select between email-based restore and network-based restore in response to the detecting, wherein
• the email-based restore is selected if the backup client is detected as not being connected to the network, and the email-based restore comprises sending the email, and
• the network-based restore is selected if the backup client is detected as being connected to the network, and the network-based restore does not comprise sending the email.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to:
• receive a request to perform a restore, wherein
• the request comprises a restore email that specifies restore data;
• automatically generate an email in response to the request, wherein
• the email comprises the restore data and metadata,
• a portion of the restore data and the metadata is included in an attachment to the email,
• the restore data is stored on backup media,
• the metadata is associated with the restore data, and
• the email is addressed to a backup client;
• detect whether the backup client is connected to a network;
• and
• select between email-based restore and network-based restore in response to the detecting, wherein
• the email-based restore is selected if the backup client is detected as not being connected to the network, and the email-based restore comprises sending the email, and
• the network-based restore is selected if the backup client is detected as being connected to the network, and the network-based restore does not comprise sending the email.