Backup method and storage control device using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a backup method for a storage control device that instructs a storage device to split a primary volume and a copy volume in the storage device, and to execute a backup operation from the copy volume to a backup volume. The storage device includes the backup volume for the copy volume. The backup method includes: the storage control device allocating a specified number of generations of the backup volume in the storage device for the copy volume; instructing the storage device to split the pair; executing a virus check on the copy volume; copying contents of the copy volume to the backup volume as a most recent generation backup if no virus is detected; updating generations in the backup volume for generations prior to the most recent generation; and instructing the storage device to re-link the split pair.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a backup method for a storage control device that instructs a storage device to split a pair of volumes consisting of a primary volume and a copy volume thereof in the storage device and executes a backup operation from the copy volume of the split pair to a backup volume, the storage device including the pair consisting of the primary volume and the copy volume thereof and the backup volume for the copy volume, a backup method for a storage control device comprising: 
 causing the storage control device allocate a specified number of generations of the backup volume in the storage device for the copy volume;    instructing the storage device to split the pair:    executing a virus check on the copy volume of the pair;    copying contents of the virus checked copy volume to the backup volume as a most recent generation backup for the copy volume if no virus is detected by the virus check;    updating the generations in the backup volume for generations prior to the most recent generation; and    instructing the storage device to re-link the split pair.    
     
     
         2 . A backup method as in  claim 1  wherein a process according to the backup method is activated in response to at least one of a schedule or an instruction from a user.  
     
     
         3 . A backup method as in  claim 1  wherein a copy volume in which the virus checking detected a virus is restored based on a backup volume storing a copy volume backup from one generation prior.  
     
     
         4 . A backup method as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 an up-to-date virus check is performed on each of the backup volumes containing backup generations for a copy volume on which a virus was detected by the virus check;  
 a search is made, starting from one generation prior and working backwards, for a backup volume for the copy volume in which the virus is detected in which a virus is not detected by the up-to-date virus check; and  
 a backup volume retrieved by the search is used to restore the copy volume in which the virus was detected.  
 
     
     
         5 . A backup method as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 a determination is made, based on at least one of desired conditions or a user instruction, as to whether a predetermined restore operation is to be executed for a copy volume in which the virus check detected a virus; and  
 the pair for the copy volume in which the virus was detected is eliminated if the determination indicates that the predetermined restore operation is not to be executed.  
 
     
     
         6 . In a storage control device that instructs a storage device to split a pair of volumes consisting of a primary volume and a copy volume thereof in the storage device and executes a backup operation from the copy volume of the split pair to a backup volume, the storage device including the pair consisting of the primary volume and the copy volume thereof and the backup volume for the copy volume, a storage device comprising: 
 means for allocating a specified number of generations of the backup volumes in the storage device for the copy volume;    means for instructing the storage device to split the pair and executing a virus check on the copy volume of the pair;    means for copying contents of the checked copy volume to the backup volume as a most recent generation backup for the copy volume if no virus is detected by the virus check;    means for updating the generations in the backup volume for generations prior to the most recent generation; and    means for instructing the storage device to re-link the split pair.