Inventors:
Kevin C. Matthews - Falcon Heights MN, US
Guido Westenberg - Minneapolis MN, US
Robert C. Anderson - Brooklyn Park MN, US
Donald J. Stryker - Saint Paul MN, US
Assignee:
Veritas Operating Corporation - Mountain View CA
International Classification:
G06F 12/00, G06F 17/00
US Classification:
707204, 707200, 707201, 707202, 707203
Abstract:
System and method for performing two-tier backups in file systems without requiring Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM). A two-tier backup mechanism may perform first-tier backups of dynamic and candidate static data, and second-tier backups of candidate static data. Data is examined by the two-tier backup mechanism and, if the data qualifies as candidate static data, metadata is created for the data. Candidate static data and its metadata are copied to first-tier backups along with dynamic data, and are also copied to second-tier backups a specified number of times, after which the static data is reclassified as “static copied data”. Only metadata for static copied data is written to the first-tier backups. Embodiments may be implemented in file systems that do not support HSM and in file systems that support HSM, whether HSM is operational or not.