Method and apparatus for localized protected imaging of a file system

A method for restoring a file system to a partition comprising a plurality of allocation units, the method comprising:

• accessing a locally-stored image file located within the partition to which the file system is to be restored, the locally-stored image file comprising a directory map and file data for a plurality of files;
• initializing at least a subset of the allocation units of the partition not occupied by the locally-stored image file including one or more allocation units used for a directory area of the partition;
• extracting the file data from the locally-stored image file into the initialized allocation units without disturbing the locally-stored image file;
• creating a new directory area for the partition using the directory map;
• and
• protecting the locally-stored image file from accidental user deletion or modification subsequent to creation of the locally-stored image file by initiating a process at system startup that opens the locally-stored image file to block subsequent processes from accessing the locally-stored image file.

An apparatus for backing up a file system in a partition comprising a plurality of allocation units, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a local imager programmed to create a locally-stored image file by copying each allocation unit occupied by a plurality of files of the file system to the locally-stored image file, wherein the locally-stored image file is located within the same partition as the file system being backed up, and wherein the local imager is configured to add a directory map to the locally-stored image file that associates copied allocation units in the locally-stored image file with names of corresponding files from the file system;
• and
• a protection component programmed to protect the locally-stored image file from accidental user deletion or modification subsequent to creation of the locally-stored image file by initiating a process at system startup that opens the locally-stored image file to block subsequent processes from accessing the locally-stored image file.

An apparatus for restoring a file system to a partition comprising a plurality of allocation units, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• an image locater to find a locally-stored image file located within the partition to which the file system is to be restored, the locally-stored image file comprising a directory map and file data for a plurality of files;
• a media formatter to initialize at least a subset of the allocation units of the partition not occupied by the locally-stored image file including one or more allocation units used for a directory area of the partition;
• a data extractor to extract the file data from the locally-stored image file into the initialized allocation units without disturbing the locally-stored image file;
• a directory area builder to build a new directory area for the partition using the directory map;
• and
• a protection component programmed to protect the locally-stored image file from accidental user deletion or modification subsequent to creation of the locally-stored image file by initiating a process at system startup that opens the locally-stored image file to block subsequent processes from accessing the locally-stored image file.

A method for localized backup and restoration of a file system in a partition comprising a plurality of allocation units, the method comprising:

• creating a locally-stored image file by copying each allocation unit occupied by a plurality of files of the file system to the locally-stored image file, wherein the locally-stored image file is located within the same partition as the file system being backed up;
• adding a directory map to the locally-stored image file that associates copied allocation units in the locally-stored image file with names of corresponding files from the file system;
• locating the locally-stored image file within the partition;
• initializing at least a subset of the allocation units of the partition not occupied by the locally-stored image file including one or more allocation units used for a directory area of the partition;
• extracting file data from the locally-stored image file into the initialized allocation units without disturbing the locally-stored image file;
• creating a new directory area for the partition using the directory map;
• and
• subsequent to creating the locally-stored image file, protecting the locally-stored image file from accidental user deletion or modification by initiating a process at system startup that opens the locally-stored image file to block subsequent processes from accessing the locally-stored image file.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising program code for backing up a file system in a partition comprising a plurality of allocation units, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

• program code for creating a locally-stored image file by copying each allocation unit occupied by a plurality of files of the file system to a locally-stored image file, wherein the locally-stored image file is located within the same partition as the file system being backed up;
• program code for adding a directory map to the locally-stored image file that associates copied allocation units in the locally-stored image file with names of corresponding files from the file system;
• and
• program code for protecting the locally-stored image file from accidental user deletion or modification subsequent to creation of the locally-stored image file by initiating a process at system startup that opens the locally-stored image file to block subsequent processes from accessing the locally-stored image file.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising program code for restoring a file system to a partition comprising a plurality of allocation units, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

• program code to access a locally-stored image file located within the partition to which the file system is to be restored, the locally-stored image file comprising a directory map and file data for a plurality of files;
• program code to initialize at least a subset of the allocation units of the partition not occupied by the locally-stored image file including one or more allocation units used for a directory area of the partition;
• program code to extract the file data from the locally-stored image file into the initialized allocation units without disturbing the locally-stored image file;
• program code to create a new directory area for the partition using the directory map;
• and
• program code to protect the locally-stored image file from accidental user deletion or modification subsequent to creation of the locally-stored image file by initiating a process at system startup that opens the locally-stored image file to block subsequent processes from accessing the locally-stored image file.