Patent ID: 7099900

Claim:
A computer-implemented system, comprising: a backup host; a storage device configured to store data; an application host configured to manage files, wherein at least a portion of a given one of said files is stored on said storage device; wherein said application host is configured to generate a data map identifying one or more locations within said storage device at which said at least a portion of said given file is stored; wherein, in response to receiving a request to back up said given file, said backup host is configured to back up said at least a portion of said given file directly from said storage device to a backup device using said data map, wherein backup data movement between said storage device and said backup device occurs independently of said application host; and wherein said application host generating said data map for said given file includes said application host executing a mapping utility and a storage mapping driver, wherein said mapping utility is configured to generate read requests of said given file, and wherein in response to receiving a given read request generated by said mapping utility, said storage mapping driver is configured to return information identifying one or more locations within said storage device at which a corresponding portion of said given file is stored.