Systems and methods for using data archiving to expedite server migration

A system for using data archiving to expedite server migration, the system comprising:

• an archive module, stored in memory coupled to at least one processor, that:
• identifies data stored on a plurality of source physical computing systems;
• archives at least a portion of the data stored on the plurality of source physical computing systems to a physical archiving system in accordance with an archiving policy;
• a metadata-update module, stored in memory coupled to the processor, that:
• identifies metadata associated with the archived data on the physical archiving system, the metadata referencing the plurality of source physical computing systems;
• alters metadata associated with the archived data on the physical archiving system so that the metadata references a target physical computing system instead of the plurality of source physical computing systems prior to bringing the target physical computing system online;
• a restore module, stored in memory coupled to the processor, that consolidates the plurality of source physical computing systems to the target computing system by:
• bringing the target physical computing system online;
• restoring at least a portion of the archived data from the physical archiving system to the target physical computing system upon bringing the target physical computing system online instead of directly copying a non-archived instance of the portion of the archived data from the plurality of source physical computing systems to the target physical computing system;
• wherein the processor is configured to execute the archive module, the metadata-update module, and the restore module.

A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• identify data stored on a plurality of source physical computing systems;
• archive at least a portion of the data stored on the plurality of source physical computing systems to a physical archiving system in accordance with an archiving policy;
• identify metadata associated with the archived data on the physical archiving system, the metadata referencing the plurality of source physical computing systems;
• alter metadata associated with the archived data on the physical archiving system so that the metadata references a target physical computing system instead of the plurality of source physical computing systems prior to bringing the target physical computing system online;
• consolidate the plurality of source physical computing systems to the target computing system by:
• bringing the target physical computing system online;
• upon bringing the target physical computing system online, restoring at least a portion of the archived data from the physical archiving system to the target physical computing system instead of directly copying a non-archived instance of the portion of the archived data from the plurality of source physical computing systems to the target physical computing system.