Selective data replication system and method

Abstract

The invention relates generally to copying electronic data. More particularly, the invention provides a computerized method for identifying, in a first backup data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion, and copying to a second backup data set at least a portion of the data item.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 332,549, entitled “SELECTIVE DATA REPLICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD”, filed Nov. 23, 2001. The entire contents of the Provisional Application 60 / 332,549 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosures, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. RELATED APPLICATIONS [0003] This application is related to the following pending applications, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: [0004] application Ser. No. 09 / 610,738, titled MODULAR BACKUP AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A STORAGE ARE...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027] In one embodiment, the invention provides a system for copying electronic data, the system comprising a first backup data set containing one or more data items; a second backup data set; and a computer, connectable to the first backup data set and the second backup data set; wherein the computer is programmed to identify, in the first backup data set, a first data item satisfying a selection criteria; and to copy at least a portion of the first data item from the first backup data set to the second backup data set.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, such fast drives are expensive and once the data is no longer accessed as frequently, the storage administrator might find it likely to move and copy this data to an auxiliary or secondary backup data set on a less expensive tape library or other device with slower access times. Once the data from the primary backup data set is moved to the auxiliary backup data set, the data can be pruned from the primary backup data set freeing up drive space for new data.

This process is also called synchronous data replication and is inefficient in terms of data management.

Thus, even though synchronous data replication allows the flexibility to promote any auxiliary backup data set to be primary backup data set since the auxiliary backup data set is a full copy of the primary backup data set, tape consumption is very high.

Also, sometimes problems occur with bad tapes or holes in data due to hardware or software problems.

In these instances, data from the primary backup data set cannot be pruned unless all data is copied to all auxiliary backup data sets which is a highly time intensive process and also requires a large number of tapes.

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