Patent ID: 8793217
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: creating a full backup copy of selected data from a storage device; creating a series of incremental backups over time following the creation of the full backup copy, including creating an oldest incremental backup at a first time, a second incremental backup at a second time, and a newest incremental backup at a third time, the second time occurring after the oldest incremental backup is created, and the third time occurring after the second incremental backup is created; merging the second incremental backup into the oldest incremental backup when a number of incremental backups in the series of incremental backups exceeds a specified number of incremental backups so as to retain at most a maximum number of incremental backups in the series of incremental backups; and merging the oldest incremental backup into the full backup at a selected time while not merging the newest incremental backup into the full backup, wherein merging the oldest incremental backup into the full backup comprises: