Patent ID: 7925623

Claim:
A data protection system, comprising: a fileserver configured to contain shares of data and to be in communication with at least one local repository that is in communication with at least one remote repository, wherein two or more repositories are configured to store a replica of a file, wherein each repository includes multiple repository nodes, at least one repository node of each repository is configured to store the replica of the file, wherein a storage location and a number of replicas in each repository is configured to be changed over time by a user; wherein based on a criticality of the file, the number of stored replicas of the file is increased or decreased in at least one repository; wherein shares of data are directories or folders of storage capacity created on the fileserver; the fileserver includes: a filter driver configured to intercept input or output activity initiated by client file requests, including modification of any existing stored files and creation of new files as modification of any existing stored files and creation of new files occur, and further configured to capture a snapshot of a set of the shares of data at a particular point in time and to maintain a list of modified and created files since a last snapshot occurred; a file system in communication with the filter driver and configured to store client files; the fileserver is configured to store a unique protection policy for each share of data on the fileserver, the protection policy defines: repositories used to protect each share of data; frequency of data protection; number of replicas of each file that are maintained in each repository; and, maintenance of modifications to each share of data; based on the definitions in the protection policy, the filter driver is configured to capture the snapshot.