Patent ID: 8151070
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A backup system comprising: a host computer comprising a first coordinator module as an upper layer which is a part of operating system of the host computer, and a first provider module as a lower layer which is provided by a storage vendor to manage a system configuration of the backup system; a backup server comprising a second coordinator module as an upper layer which is a part of operating system of the backup server, and a second provider module as a lower layer which is provided by the storage vendor to manage the system configuration of the backup system; a first storage system coupled to the host computer and having a primary volume that stores data input and output by the host computer; and a second storage system coupled to the backup server and the first storage system and having a secondary volume that forms a remote copy pair with the primary volume, wherein the first provider module of the host computer checks whether it is possible to split the remote copy pair of the primary volume and the secondary volume in accordance with a backup request from the first coordinator module of the host computer, wherein if the remote copy pair can be split, the first provider module of the host computer registers the primary volume as a subject of backup process, the first coordinator module of the host computer ceases write processing to the primary volume and sends snapshot instruction to the first provider module of the host computer, and the first provider module of the host computer creates a first copy from the primary volume to the secondary volume as a snapshot, wherein when detecting completion of the first copy, the first provider module of the host computer splits the remote copy pair and transfers backup information to the first coordinator module of the host system, and wherein if the second coordinator module of the backup server requires at least one backup volume to the second provider module of the backup server, the second provider module of the backup server recognizes the secondary volume as a backup volume corresponding to the primary volume, for storing the snapshot of the primary volume as of a certain point in time, and cancels a concealment of the backup volume from the backup server, so that the second coordinator module of the backup server achieves the backup volume, while the backup volume is initially concealed from the operating system of the backup server.