Organized Data Removal or Redirection from a Cloning Process to Enable Cloning a Larger System to a Smaller System

Abstract

The present invention is a system to automatically remove sets of pre specified files or divert sets of pre specified files from the files that would normally be sent to a storage device during a backup or cloning operation. The invention is used to allow a backup of a storage device onto a smaller capacity storage device or for creating sets of backups each of which may contain different sets of files from the source storage device. The invention consists of sets of lists which drive the backup engine and provide the intelligence for determining which files are backed up, diverted to another storage device, or not transferred.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of creating multiple different bootable backups, comprising:
 a computer, having a processor and a storage device, and having a port that is connectable to at least first and second external storage devices;   said processor operating to create at least one list of files from at least one of said storage devices,   said computer operating to create a first list of files to be copied to the first external storage device and to create a second list of files to be copied to the second external storage device, where the first and second list of files are different files,   where said first list of files also includes a first list of operating files including at least files to render said first external storage device bootable and to have software;   and where said second list of files also includes a second list of operating files including at least files to render said second external storage device bootable and to have software;   said computer operating to automatically stored files on said first and second storage devices, such that the first and second external storage devices become a bootable storage device after said backup that includes files from said at least one of said storage devices.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where said port connects to an external wired bus, and the external storage device is connected to said bus. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  where said port connects to a network and the external storage device is connected to said network. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  where said designated backup storage device is a remote storage device connected over a network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor further creates a third list of files to be ignored during backup, and where said processor operates to check a name of said file to be transferred against said third list of files and if said file name appears on said second list of files, said file will not be transferred, and said computer operates to check the name of said file which is not ignored against said first list of files and if said file name appears on said first list of files said file will be transferred to said first external storage device, else said file will be transferred to said second external storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  where said bus is one of USB; IEEE-1394; or SCSI. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  where said first list of files and said second list of files are ordered by file type. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  where said first list of files and said second list of files are ordered by directory and subdirectory. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  where said first list of files and said second list of files are ordered randomly. 
     
     
         10 . A method of creating multiple different bootable backups, comprising:
 using a processor to connect to an operating storage device, and to connect to at least first and second external storage devices;   creating a first list of files to be copied to the first external storage device;   creating a second list of files to be copied to the second external storage device, where the first and second list of files include different files;   where said first list of files also includes a first list of operating files including at least files to render said first external storage device bootable and to have software;   and where said second list of files also includes a second list of operating files including at least files to render said second external storage device bootable and to have software;   partitioning and formatting said first and second external storage devices and using said lists of files to render said first and second lists of files bootable and to have backup files and software thereon, such that the first and second external storage devices become a bootable storage device after said backup that includes files from said at least one of said storage devices and also include software that can be run.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  where said port connects to an external wired bus, and the external storage device is connected to said bus. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  where said port connects to a network and the external storage device is connected to said network. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  where said designated backup storage device is a remote storage device connected over a network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said processor further creates a third list of files to be ignored during backup, and where said processor operates to check a name of said file to be transferred against said third list of files and if said file name appears on said second list of files, said file will not be transferred, and said computer operates to check the name of said file which is not ignored against said first list of files and if said file name appears on said first list of files said file will be transferred to said first external storage device, else said file will be transferred to said second external storage device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  where said bus is one of USB; IEEE-1394; or SCSI. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  where said first list of files and said second list of files are ordered by file type. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  where said first list of files and said second list of files are ordered by directory and subdirectory. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  where said first list of files and said second list of files are ordered randomly. 
     
     
         19 . A method of creating multiple different bootable backups, comprising:
 using a processor to connect to an operating storage device, and to connect to at least first and second external storage devices;   receiving an option value about a backup to be made;   if the option value indicates that the backup should be bootable, formatting, partitioning, and transferring files to said first external storage device;   said transferring files comprising creating a list of files to be ignored, scanning current files again said files to be ignored, and ignoring files whose names are on the list to be ignored;   creating a second list of files, and storing files that have not been ignored butter on said light second list of files on said second external storage device and storing other files on said first external storage device.   
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19 , wherein the bootable backup includes operating files and software files.