Patent ID: 8700574

Claim:
A method for replicating near real-time transaction data and disc based database files in a distributed system to a backup, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at the backup, a snapshot of a plurality of distributed databases, wherein the snapshot is received on a periodic basis, the periodic basis including a timed basis or a specific number of records entered into the plurality of distributed databases, and wherein at least two distributed databases of the plurality of distributed databases store inter-related data; replicating the plurality of distributed databases in the backup from the snapshot to build replicated databases; receiving streamed transaction updates for the plurality of distributed databases subsequent to taking the snapshot, wherein the transaction updates are associated with unique identifiers that indicate a sequential order of the transaction updates; assembling the transaction updates into sequential transaction updates in an order based on the unique identifiers associated with the transaction updates; validating an integrity of the order of the sequential transaction updates; simultaneously writing two or more of the validated sequential transaction updates in the sequential order into separate files of a journal; and applying the validated sequential transaction updates from the separate files of the journal in the order to the replicated databases, wherein the validated sequential transaction updates are streamed to the replicated databases even as additional updates are occurring to the transaction updates.