Data backup using metadata mapping

An information processing apparatus for backing up files stored in a storage device, comprising:

• a metadata management unit configured to manage metadata of files stored in the storage device;
• wherein managing metadata of files comprises, for respective files, generating a respective file size, a respective last update time, a respective identification value, and a respective data block address;
• a map generation unit configured to generate a map which indicates whether the metadata associated with an identification value uniquely identifying a file in the storage device is present or absent;
• and
• a backup management unit configured to scan the metadata to detect files that have been created, modified, or deleted since a last backup, and store the map for current files, at least a data block, and the metadata for a detected file in a backup storage device as backup information in association with the identification value;
• wherein the map for current files comprises an inode bitmap, wherein the data block comprises differential data for the detected file, and wherein the metadata for the detected file comprises inode information for the detected file;
• and
• wherein the backup management unit is further configured to restore data by restoring at least the inode information for the detected file and the differential data for the detected file based on the inode bitmap having a bit set to 1 for the detected file.