Patent ID: 8880472
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of backing-up, and making available, electronic data and software initially stored on a client server located at a client's site, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing an on-site appliance at the client's site and connecting it to the client server; b. making an on-site copy of data and software, stored on the client server, and storing it in the on-site appliance; c. sending an off-site copy of this on-site copy to, and storing it on, at least one off-site appliance at one or more sites remote from the client's site; d. repeatedly making incremental on-site copies of the data and software stored on the client server, and storing them on the on-site appliance, at predetermined points in time after step b, each incremental on-site copy only containing data and software which is different to that of either the on-site copy made in step b or the latest incremental copy; e. sending an off-site copy of each incremental on-site copy to, and storing it on, the at least one off-site appliance; f. using the on-site appliance to create an on-site virtual hard disc from the on-site copy; g. using the on-site appliance to update the on-site virtual hard disc by adding each incremental on-site copy to the latest on-site virtual hard disc, this update occurring after an incremental on-site copy is stored on the on-site appliance; h. using at least one off-site appliance to create an off-site virtual hard disc from the off-site copy; i. using the at least one off-site appliance to update the off-site virtual hard disc by adding each incremental off-site copy to the latest off-site virtual hard disc, this update occurring after an incremental off-site copy is received at the at least one off-site appliance; and in response to the client server becoming unavailable to users of the client server: j. updating the latest virtual hard disc on the on-site appliance, or at least one of the off-site appliances, comprising the latest on-site or off-site virtual hard disc and one or more selected incremental on-site or off-site copies; k. booting the updated virtual hard disc to create a virtual client server; l. making the data and software on the virtual client server available to users via the on-site or off-site appliance; m. repeatedly making incremental copies of the data and software on the virtual client server, and storing them on the on-site, and/or the at least one off-site, appliance at predetermined points in time after step l, the incremental copies only containing data and software which is different to that of the data and software on either the updated virtual hard disc created in step k or the latest incremental copy.