System and method for generating and managing quick recovery volumes

Abstract

The invention relates to computer readable medium storing program code which when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform a method for creating a quick recovery volume of a primary data set used by a first computer in a backup storage system, which includes identifying a snapshot image of the primary data set generated by a snapshot application, creating the quick recovery volume of the primary data set from the snapshot image of the primary data set and controlling transfer of data from the first computer to an archival storage unit. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for creating a quick recovery volume of a primary data set that includes creating a snapshot image of the primary data set and creating a quick recovery volume of the primary data set from the snapshot image of the primary data set.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor;   a snapshot manager that interfaces with a backup storage system,
 wherein the snapshot manager is configured to enable users to browse snapshot copies and to enable users to recover data associated with the snapshot copies stored in the backup storage system, 
 wherein the snapshot copies include at least one full snapshot copy and at least one incremental snapshot copy, 
 wherein the incremental snapshot image is generated based in part on the full snapshot image 
 wherein the snapshot copies are stored on one or more of multiple secondary storage devices; 
 wherein the snapshot manager interfaces with a volume snapshot service for creating a snapshot copy, and 
 wherein the snapshot copy represents a copy of an original volume. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a snapshot requester program module that packages data for the snapshot copy, wherein the packaged data is configured to communicate to the volume snapshot service for creating the snapshot copy. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a snapshot requester, and a snapshot writer directed by the snapshot requester to package data for the snapshot copy, wherein the writer program module is configured to package data for a specific application, wherein the packaged data is communicated to the volume snapshot service for creating the snapshot copy. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the snapshot manager indexes snapshot copies, snapshot indexing enabling at least one of copying, deleting, displaying, browsing, changing properties, and recovering snapshot copies. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the indexing comprises indexing in terms of objects native to particular applications. 
     
     
         6 . A computer system comprising:
 an archival storage unit; and   a programmed computer, coupled to the archival storage unit, wherein the programmed computer is configured to control data transfer from the programmed computer to the archival storage unit to create a quick recovery volume of a primary data set,
 wherein the programmed computer is configured to
 provide snapshot copies of the primary data set, and 
 create the quick recovery volume of the primary data set from the snapshot copies of the primary data set, 
 
 wherein the programmed computer interfaces with a volume snapshot service for creating the snapshot copies, and
 wherein the snapshot copies represent an original volume; and 
 
 wherein the snapshot copies include at least one full snapshot copy and at least one incremental snapshot copy, and 
 wherein the incremental snapshot image is generated based in part on the full snapshot image. 
   
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 6 , the archival storage unit connected to the programmed computer over a communication network. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 7 , comprising at least one server computer communicatively coupled to the programmed computer and archival storage unit and programmed for controlling data transfer from the computer to the archival storage unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the snapshot manager creates incremental snapshot copies using different procedures for data associated with different applications running on the primary storage device. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions which, when executed by at least one data processor, provides a quick recovery volume of data, comprising:
 access a primary data set;   provide snapshot copies of the primary data set, and   create a quick recovery volume of the primary data set from the snapshot copies of the primary data set,
 wherein the snapshot copies represent an original volume; and 
 wherein the snapshot copies include at least one full snapshot copy and at least one incremental snapshot copy, and 
 wherein the incremental snapshot image is generated based in part on the full snapshot image. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the snapshot copies are static point-in-time representations of the primary data set. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the data set comprises at least one of a primary volume and application data. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the snapshot manager indexes snapshot copies, wherein the snapshot indexing enables at least one of copying, deleting, displaying, browsing, changing properties, and recovering snapshot images, wherein the indexing comprises indexing of objects native to particular applications. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the snapshot manager indexes snapshot data, wherein the snapshot indexing enables at least one of copying, deleting, displaying, browsing, changing properties, and recovering snapshot data. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the snapshot manager creates incremental snapshot copies using different procedures for data associated with different applications running on a primary storage device.