Patent ID: 7765371

Claim:
A method for providing data backup and restoration services, comprising: generating a first set of data, wherein said first set of data is stored as a first data image on a first system; transferring a second set of data from a second system to a third system, wherein said second set of data is stored as a second data image on said third system, said third system operable to perform data backup and restoration operations; combining said first and second data images to generate a third data image, wherein said third data image is stored on said third system and comprises a first set of metadata describing its location on said third system; transferring a copy of said third data image to a fourth system, wherein said first and second sets of data are extracted from said third data image and stored as a third set of data on said fourth system, said third set of data comprising a second set of metadata describing its location on said fourth system; and replacing said first set of metadata with said second set of metadata.