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Abstract: An improved backup storage system and method for use in conjunction with hierarchical or mass storage servers and networks is disclosed. Baseline, full and incremental backup procedures are used to save file copies. In one preferred embodiment, the baseline backup procedure is used to store copies of stable files, i.e. files that are modified less frequently, if at all. With a hierarchical storage server, such files are typically those stored on tertiary storage media, e.g. erasable optical disks, WORMs or magnetic tape. The full backup procedure stores, as full backup copies, copies of all files not in the baseline backup and files that have been changed since the time of their baseline backup. The full backup procedure also stores file identifiers and signal representative of storage locations of baseline backup copies for files which have not been changed since the time of the baseline backup. The incremental backup procedure stores, as incremental backup copies, copies of files not in the baseline or full backups, e.g., new files, and files that have changed since the time of their last backup (baseline, full or incremental). The incremental backup procedure also stores file identifiers and signals representative of storage locations of baseline backup copies for files which have not been changed since the time of the baseline backup, and also stores file identifiers and signals representative of storage locations of full and incremental backup copies for files which have not been changed since the time of their full or incremental backup.

Abstract: A computer network for backing up data and program files located on networked workstations onto a centralized backup media of a backup device of the network. The backup computer network allows users of workstations of remote nodes to preselect files (by name and by file selection criteria) on their workstation which are to be backed onto the centralized backup media. The file selection processes are therefore distributed throughout the network which considerably increases the speed of backing up over the network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for backing up files in a distributed computing system. A file server maintains files in a shared name space. The file server provides a first backup client program and a second backup client program with access to the files in the shared name space. The first backup client program initiates a backup request to backup a requested file. A determination is made as to whether the requested file is maintained in a shared name space. The backup request is transmitted to the second backup client program upon determining that the requested file is maintained in the shared name space. The second backup client program transmits a message to the file server to provide the requested file. The file server transmits the requested file with the file server to the second backup client program. The second backup client program then transmits the requested file to a backup server program. The backup server program stores the requested file in a storage device.

Abstract: In a computer network environment (200), multiple clients (210) and multiple servers (230) are connected via a local area network (LAN) (220) to a backup file server (240). Each client (210) and each server is provided with backup agent software (215), which schedules backup operations on the basis of time since the last backup, the amount of information generated since the last backup, or the like. An agent (215) also sends a request to the backup server (240), prior to an actual backup, including information representative of the files that it intends to back up. The backup server (240) is provided with a mechanism to receive backup requests from the client agents (215) and accept or reject backup requests on the basis of backup server loading, network loading, or the like. The backup server (240) is further provided with mechanisms to enact redundant file elimination (RFE), whereby the server indicates to the client agents, prior to files being backed up, that certain of the files to be backed up are already stored by the backup server. Thus, the clients do not need to send the redundant files to be backed up.