Patent ID: 8677091

Claim:
A method for protecting data in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, at least one Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device comprising a first file server having associated therewith a proprietary operating and file management system, the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device in communication with the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising: receiving a request to store source data on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein the source data comprises multiple data files; combining with a media management component, a plurality of the multiple data files in the source data into at least one chunk of data; adding with the media management component, at least a first header to the chunk of data, wherein the first header is compliant with the Network Data Management Protocol; sending with the media agent a first data structure to a second file server that is remotely located from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device based on the Network Data Management Protocol, the first data structure comprising at least the first header and the chunk of data; creating a second data structure with the file server by adding with the second file server, at least a second header to the first file structure, the second header comprising at least a first set of file markers that identify the plurality of data files in the chunk of data, the second file server further adding a trailer to the first data structure, the trailer comprising at least a second set of file markers that identify the plurality of data files in the chunk of data; and writing the second data structure to the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device; retrieving with the second file server the second data structure from the NAS device; separating with the second file server, the second header and trailer from the first header and the chunk of data, and using the separated second header and trailer to create chunk metadata that identifies the plurality of data files in the chunk; providing with the second file server, the first header, the chunk of data and the chunk metadata to the media agent component; and unpacking with the media agent, the plurality of files in the chunk of data based on the chunk metadata.