Patent ID: 7657579

Claim:
A method of processing hierarchical data having a hierarchy comprising: receiving a first list of items in a first level of the hierarchy of the hierarchical data, wherein the hierarchical data is a saveset comprising a file system or a portion thereof; sorting the first list in an order based on an item attribute that is independent of a physical storage location at which a particular item is physically stored on a storage device; processing the data of the first level in the order of the sorted first list, including by performing the following in sorted order for each of the items in the sorted first list: backing up data associated with the item; and after backup of the item has completed and prior to processing of a next item, generating a record indicating that backup associated with the item has completed; and if another level of the hierarchy of the hierarchical data is encountered during processing of the first level: discontinuing, at least temporarily, processing of items in the first list; receiving a second list of items in the encountered level; sorting the second list in the order based on the same item attribute used to sort the first list; and processing the data of the second level in the order of the sorted second list, wherein said steps of receiving the second list of items, sorting the second list, and processing the data of the second level are performed prior to processing of items in the first list being resumed.