Patent ID: 8725972
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
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 the space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume; terminating the flashcopy when the space requirement reaches a predetermined level associated with a maximum amount of space on a backup storage medium, the maximum amount of space on the backup storage medium being less than a maximum amount of space on the target storage volume; copying the stored content on the target storage volume to a backup storage medium; archiving the stored content on the backup storage medium and maintaining a list of archive numbers in which a data segment of the stored content last appeared; grain splitting by initiating new flashcopies of the source storage volume each time the space requirement reaches predetermined level for each successive flashcopy to the target storage volume; repeating the steps of storing, monitoring, terminating, copying, and archiving for each grain split; and limiting a number of grain splits allowed to be triggered for a selected archive period.