Patent ID: 8560790
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of performing a backup of a source storage volume to a target storage volume by a processor device comprising: initiating a flashcopy of the source storage volume to the target storage volume; storing the content of the source storage volume on the target storage volume in a space efficient manner; monitoring a space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume; terminating the flashcopy of the source storage volume to the target storage volume when the space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume reaches a size of an allocated space in the target storage volume coinciding with a size of a backup storage medium; copying the stored content on the target storage volume to the backup storage medium, initiating a new flashcopy of the source storage volume when the space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume reaches the size of the allocated space in the target storage volume by inserting an other target storage volume in between the source storage volume and the target storage volume and allowing additional data to be written to the other target storage volume without affecting the target storage volume, the source storage volume being linked to a new backup storage medium having a size, and the other target storage volume having an other allocated space having a size that coincides with the size of the new backup storage medium; archiving the stored content from the backup storage medium; and deleting both the flashcopy and the stored content on the backup storage medium after the stored content has been archived.