Patent ID: 8548944

Claim:
A method for performing backup of file systems, the method comprising: receiving data blocks for a plurality of point-in-time copies of a source file system, each point-in-time copy of the source file-system obtained by extracting data blocks from the source file-system that changed since a previous point-in-time copy was extracted, the source file system comprising at least a source file; storing the data blocks on a storage system, the stored data blocks comprising one or more versions of a data block, each version corresponding to a point-in-time copy; receiving a request to restore information obtained from the source file system for a target system; and responsive to receiving the request to restore, creating a virtual restored file system comprising a set of files including a restored file corresponding to the source file, the creating comprising: linking the restored file to a plurality of the data blocks stored on the storage system, the plurality of data blocks comprising at least a first data block associated with a first point in time copy and a second data block associated with a second point in time copy, and mounting the set of files to the target system to allow the target system to access the set of files, the mounted set of files comprising the virtual restored file system.