Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Control technique
Reexamination Certificate
1996-10-03
2001-01-09
Cabeca, John W. (Department: 2752)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Control technique
C711S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173376
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to backup and restore of computer system data, and more particularly, to an automated method and system for backup storing and then restoring computer system data by employing auxiliary storage pools associated with at least one computer system in the multisystem environment.
BACKGROUND ART
In order to ensure against loss of data, computer systems are routinely backed up today on magnetic media, which often requires interactive responses and the physical presence of an individual. Since backup of large computer systems can require many hours to complete, backup of system data often occurs on other than a daily basis. For example, some systems implement an incremental dumping policy wherein a complete system data dump occurs periodically, i.e., weekly or monthly, with a daily dump only of those files which have been modified since the full dump. This is a partial solution, however, since the process can still be time consuming, interactive, and require the presence of an individual.
A need thus exists in the computer system field for an improved approach to backup store and restore of system data, and preferably for a technique which allows for continued operation of the computer system being backed up.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Briefly summarized, the invention comprises in one aspect a method for backing up system data in a multiple computer system environment. The method includes: at a first computer system of the multiple computer system environment, renaming system data to be backed up, the renamed system data designating the first computer system as source system of the system data to be backed up and comprising a name different from any name of system data at a second computer system in the multiple computer system environment; and backup storing the renamed system data of the first computer system to memory of the second computer system in the multiple computer system environment.
In another aspect, a system is provided for backup storing system data in a multiple computer system environment. The system includes at a first computer system in the multiple system environment, means for renaming system data to be backed up. This renaming means includes means for designating the first computer system as source system of the system data to be backed up, and for designating the data to be backed up with a name different from any name of system data at a second computer system. Backup storing means is provided for then storing the renamed system data of the first computer system to memory of the second computer system.
In another aspect, a computer program product is provided herein comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means therein for use in backing up system data in a multiple computer system environment. The computer readable program code means in the computer program product includes computer readable program code means for affecting at a first computer system in the multiple computer system environment, renaming of system data to be backed up. The renamed system data designates the first computer system as source system of this data and comprises a name different from any name of system data at a second computer system in the multiple computer system environment. Computer readable program code means is also provided for affecting backup storing of the renamed system data of the first computer system to memory of the second computer system in the multiple computer system environment.
Enhanced features of each of the above-outlined aspects of the present invention are also described and claimed herein. For example, each aspect has an associated technique for restoring all or part of the backed up system data to the source system.
To restate, the present invention allows backup of all pertinent system information from one computer system to another computer system in an environment of multiple computer systems located either locally or remotely from one another and coupled together via one or more communication links, such as a local area network. Backup of system data can include system values, configurations, user libraries and security information, essentially everything that is presently backed up on magnetic media can be backed up to a second system's auxiliary storage pool (ASP), which by way of example can comprise DASD. Backup can occur automatically from one system to another, and without any interactive response. Backup can even occur while the computer system being backed up is active. As a further advantage, the present invention could be used to update or replace data that is being shared between several locations. Also, a restore operation can be readily accomplished by running the backup store operation in reverse.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5008936 (1991-04-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 5157783 (1992-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5325519 (1994-06-01), Long et al.
patent: 5327551 (1994-07-01), Kaneko
patent: 5327566 (1994-07-01), Forsyth
patent: 5386544 (1995-01-01), Nakamura
patent: 5386552 (1995-01-01), Garney
patent: 5414864 (1995-05-01), Koizumi
patent: 5428785 (1995-06-01), Morel et al.
patent: 5634052 (1997-05-01), Morris
patent: 5742792 (1998-04-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5742829 (1998-04-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5764982 (1998-06-01), Madduri
patent: 5768623 (1998-06-01), Judd et al.
Crowley, et al. “Optimized Save Procedure Using Physical Disk Addresses”, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 2476-2478, Oct. 1983.
International Technical Support Organization, “Upgrading to AS/400 Advanced Series PowerPC AS”, pp. iii-, viii, ix, 1-9, 188-200, Jan. 1996.
Fowler Craig Boyd
Grunbok, Jr. Warren W.
Martino Gilford Francis
Vasek Paul Raymond
Anderson M.
Cabeca John W.
Heslin & Rothenberg, P.C.
International Business Machines Corp.
LandOfFree
Data backup and restore method and system in a multisystem... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Data backup and restore method and system in a multisystem..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Data backup and restore method and system in a multisystem... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2538172