Patent ID: 7617260
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for storing versions of a data set, comprising: receiving a first number that indicates how many local versions of the data set are to be stored in local storage given an amount of available local storage, wherein the local storage is partitioned into one or more local storage containers; determining whether a second number that indicates a total number of local versions of the data set that the local storage is capable of storing exceeds the first number; in response to determining that the second number exceeds the first number, using the amount of local storage that is capable of storing the first number of local versions of the data set; receiving a request to store a version of the data set in the local storage with a local backup operation, wherein the local backup operation is one of an instant virtual copy operation and an incremental virtual copy operation; and in response to the request, using a backup policy to determine how to re-use a number of storage containers based on the local backup operation when more than the first number of local versions are backed up with local backup operations.