Patent ID: 8909774

Claim:
At least one tangible computer-readable memory carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one a media server having a primary storage, streams media to a client computing device over a network, comprising: in response to a received request, determining that a storage location of a requested media file is a secondary storage location and not the primary storage, wherein the requested media file is stored in a backup format at the secondary storage location, wherein the secondary storage location includes an index that stores index data generated during storage of data to the secondary storage location, and, wherein the index includes an indication of specific files being stored during the storage of data; accessing the media file via a virtual machine of a virtual layer, wherein the media server hosts the virtual layer having one or more virtual machines, wherein each virtual machine includes a corresponding operating system, and, wherein the virtual layer further includes a virtual machine storage manager hosted on a computing device different from the media server; and, providing the client computing device access to a portion of the media file from the secondary storage location, via the virtual layer, wherein the primary storage includes a stub that indicates the secondary storage location of the requested media file.