System and method for providing data and application continuity in a computer system

Abstract

A system and method for providing or maintaining data and application continuity in a computer system. According to an embodiment, the system comprises a communication interface for a client system, a network layer for receiving data from the client system, a hardware infrastructure for creating instances of the client system for replicating data, and an applications module for executing one or more applications on the replicated data. According to a further aspect, the system includes a portal and user interface configured for providing a remote user with control, audit and other functions associated with the user's system configuration. According to another aspect, the portal and user interface provides access and control based on user privileges for a multi-tenant, multi-instant architecture or configuration.

1 . A system for providing data continuity for one or more client systems, said system comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive data from the one or more client systems;   a security infrastructure configured to authorize communication with the one or more the client systems;   a hardware infrastructure comprising a replication engine configured to create one or more virtual servers, and said one or more virtual servers being configured for storing at least some of the data received from the one or more client systems; and   an applications module, said applications module being configured to run one or more application programs on some of the data received from one of the client systems, and said one or more application programs corresponding to application programs running on the client system.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a portal configured for providing access to one or more users associated with the one or more client systems. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , further including a mechanism configured to receive inputs entered by the one or more users at said portal and to generate a replication configuration for said hardware infrastructure or said applications module corresponding to the associated client system. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a network infrastructure comprising one or more client networks, each of said one or more client networks comprising a private network configured for access by one of the one or more client systems. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a control platform comprising one or more of a configuration module, a reporting module, a logging module, a network definition module, a server definition module and an archive definition module. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said configuration module includes a rules-based mechanism for generating a configuration definition associated with one of the one or more client systems, and rules-based mechanism being configured to be responsive to one or more inputs from the user associated with the client system. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , further including a portal configured for providing receiving said one or more inputs from the user and providing said one or more inputs to said configuration module. 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing data continuity for a plurality of client systems, said system comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive data from the client systems;   a security infrastructure configured to authorize communication with the client systems;   a hardware infrastructure comprising a replication engine configured to create one or more virtual servers, and said one or more virtual servers being configured for storing at least some of the data received from the client systems; and   a portal configured for providing an entity access to the virtual servers associated with one or more of the client systems, and said access being based on credentials associated with said entity.   
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said entity comprises a partner and one or more of the client systems comprise customers of said partner, and said portal is configured to allow said partner to control the configuration of the virtual servers associated with said customers. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , further including an applications module, said applications module being configured to run one or more application programs on some of the data received from one of the client systems, and said one or more application programs corresponding to application programs running on the client system. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said portal is configured to allow said partner to define a replication configuration for said hardware infrastructure or said applications module corresponding to the associated client system. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing data continuity for one or more client systems, said method comprising:
 receiving data from the one or more client systems;   providing a replication engine configured to create one or more virtual servers, and said one or more virtual servers being configured for storing at least some of the data received from the one or more client systems; and   running one or more application programs on some of the data received from one of the client systems, and said one or more application programs corresponding to application programs running on the client system.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further including the step of storing the data processed by said one or more application programs.