Patent ID: 8458232

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for using community data to automatically generate rules for identifying files that are suitable for being stored within virtualization layers, at least a portion of the method being performed by a server comprising at least one processor, the method comprising: receiving file metadata from a plurality of client devices within a community, wherein the file metadata identifies characteristics of files stored on the plurality of client devices; automatically determining, by analyzing the file metadata received from the plurality of client devices within the community, that a file having a specific file name is frequently present on client devices of users of a specific application within the community; concluding, based at least in part on the determination, that the file represents a non-data file suitable for being stored within virtualization layers; automatically generating a rule that: comprises criteria for identifying the file; specifies that the file is suitable for being stored within virtualization layers; providing the rule to at least one of the plurality of client devices within the community to enable the client device to determine that the file is suitable for being stored within a virtualization layer on the client device.