Patent ID: 8782008

Claim:
A method for selecting a location of a proxy server in a network to assist in a transfer of data from a system to a backup target storage system where the system and backup target storage system are connected to the network, the method comprising: initiating a backup process to transfer a data set from the system to the backup target storage system to be assisted by the proxy; determining whether a physical proxy server is available in the network; analyzing configuration data and usage data for the system and the backup target system to determine resources and load for the system and the backup target system; selecting a location in the network for the proxy server to be instantiated from one of the system, the physical proxy server and the backup target storage system based on detected availability of the physical proxy server and the analysis; and instantiating the proxy server at the selected location to effect a transfer of the data from the system to the backup target storage system by the proxy server.