Hybrid Backup of Very Large File System Using Metadata Image Backup and Identification, Selection amp; Backup of Files Not Stored Off-line

摘要

Hybrid backup and restore of a system involving a metadata image backup and restoration of a hierarchical storage management (HSM) system to create a point-in-time image. Identifying means concurrently identify resident files not-yet stored off-line; selecting files within resident files to form an optimized set using predetermined criteria, which is passed to a backup system. The metadata may comprise a directory tree and an inode, where the inode files comprise a plurality of inode entries each entry comprising a data pointer referencing on-line or off-line storage. The identifying means may identify nodes with data-pointers referencing on-line storage; and the selection may involve identifying inode entries having an immutable bit set in the attributes. The invention proposes to solve the problem of very large file system restoration requiring a significant amount of administrator time and/or a delay in resumption of business.