JP2003131915A - Distributed backup system using network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method preventing loss of important data due to deterioration and breakage of a storage device and an unexpected disaster, at low cost and less expense in time and effort. SOLUTION: A backup system comprising clients performing automatically backup into a single or a plurality of backup servers via a network according to a schedule with prespecified files preset therein, an authentication server determining whether processing of the clients and the backup servers should be continued and the single or plurality of backup servers performing the backup by receiving requests from the clients.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a backup system for recording data handled by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advancement and speeding up of data processing technology and the cost reduction of storage media, the backup of data handled by a computer is stored in a large capacity storage device. The method of protecting data in case of emergency is very common. Further, a method of backing up to a removable storage medium such as an MO or a CD-ROM and storing and managing the backup in a place different from a computer to protect data in case of emergency is also common.

However, these backup means are vulnerable to data loss due to deterioration or damage of the computer or storage medium, and do not guarantee the data in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or fire. Further, the backup means to a removable storage medium such as an MO or a CD-ROM is generally a manual work, which is a labor-intensive work, and further, the storage location of this removable storage medium and any time. You must keep track of which removable storage media backups are stored on.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the data can be backed up to a remote place by using the network technology including the Internet so as to guarantee the data even in the event of a disaster or the like. However, the method of installing a backup computer at a single or a plurality of remote locations and connecting the network to perform the backup has a problem of cost and labor, and is a possible method for a company. However, it is extremely difficult for one person to realize it.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system and method for protecting important data from being lost due to deterioration or damage of a storage device or an unexpected disaster with low cost and little effort.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, a single or a plurality of backup servers, a client that transfers files to the backup server, and a process of the client or the backup server are continued. An authentication server that determines whether it is good,
A distributed backup system is configured by a network that connects the client, the authentication server, and the backup server.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example of carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a distributed backup system. 11 is a client A, 12 is a client B, 13 is a client C, 2 is an authentication server, 31 is a backup server A, 32 is a backup server B, 33 is a backup server C, and 4 is a network.

A user who intends to use the present invention decides in advance how many backup servers should be distributed and backed up, and the authentication for the user to receive the service according to the present invention. The password is received from the service provider of the present invention. The contents agreed here can be changed later. In this embodiment, the case where the user who handles the client 11 has agreed in advance to back up to two locations will be described.

In FIG. 1, there are backup servers 31 to 33. When a user who uses the present invention backs up to only one place, the backup server 31 is used, and when to back up to two places. For this purpose, a backup server 31 and a backup server 32 are used. Then, it is indicated that the backup servers 31 to 33 are used when backing up to three locations. However, this arrangement is not always necessary, and the backup server 32 and the backup server 33 can be set to backup to two locations.
In this embodiment, a user who uses the client 11 will be described as performing distributed backup to two locations using the backup server 31 and the backup server 32.

A user who handles the client 11 inputs to the client 11 a password for authentication received from the service implementer of the present invention in advance, specifies a file to be backed up, and also specifies a backup schedule. I do. This setting operation is performed by the user who handles the client 11
It is performed only the first time when 1 is used, and thereafter, the setting contents can be changed as needed.

The client 11 automatically backs up a file designated by a user who handles the client 11 according to a designated schedule. At this time, the client 11 sends the password for authentication specified by the user who handles the client 11 to the backup server 31 or the backup server 32, and the backup server 31 or the backup server 32 receiving the password receives the password from the client 11. At the same time as receiving the request from the client, the authentication server 2 is queried as to whether the request from the client 11 can be accepted,
Perform backup processing only when it is good.

Further, the user can freely take out the file saved as a backup. In this case,
The user who handles the client 11 inputs the password for authentication received from the service implementer of the present invention in advance to the client 11, specifies the file to be retrieved from the backup server, specifies the save destination, and saves the file. Specify the target backup server for ordering. The user can freely select and specify whether to save the file to the place where the file originally existed or to another place, and specify the backup server to retrieve the file automatically or manually. You can choose. When the backup server for obtaining the file is designated automatically, when the attempt to obtain the file from the backup server 31 fails as a result, the same attempt is made to the backup server 32. If this is manual, the user designates the target backup server 31 or 32.

The client 11, which receives the backup file retrieval request from the user who handles the client 11, transmits the password for the authentication entered by the user to the backup server, and the backup server receives the password and at the same time the client 1 informs the authentication server 2 of the password.
Inquires about whether the request from 1 is acceptable, and accepts the notification of the file designated by the user from the client 11 only when the request is acceptable. The backup server sends the files to the client 11, and the client 11 receiving the files stores the files in the location designated by the user.

In order to realize the service of the present invention at low cost, one backup server can store the backups of a plurality of users, and it can be realized if there is at least one backup server, and further distributed backup is possible. And the backup server can be increased according to the expansion of the backup capacity.

Therefore, both the user who handles the client 12 and the user who handles the client 13 can perform backup in the same manner as the user who handles the client 11, and the backup server serving as the backup destination is backed up by another user. It is possible to back up to a backup server that duplicates the backup server used for.

Next, as a method for more effectively implementing the present invention, the backup process generates a difference between the file to be backed up at that time and the file backed up to the backup server, and transfers the difference data. By doing so, the amount of communication on the network is reduced and the backup process is completed quickly, and when a backup is attempted, the next backup is performed while leaving the files already backed up. Can be more convenient for you.

[0017]

With the structure as described in the claims, it is possible to prevent important data from being lost due to deterioration or damage of a storage device or an unexpected disaster with low cost and little effort. Becomes

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a backup system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 is a client A, 12 is a client B, 13 is a client C, 2 is an authentication server, 31 is a backup server A, 32 is a backup server B, 33 is a backup server C, and 4 is a network.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A single or a plurality of backup servers, a client that transfers files to the backup server, an authentication server that determines whether the processing of the client or the backup server can be continued, and the client. A distributed backup system consisting of a network that connects an authentication server and a backup server. 2. A distributed backup system, wherein the backup server can store backups of a plurality of users for one backup server. 3. The distributed backup system, wherein the backup server can more securely guarantee the backed up data by managing files transferred from clients by generation. 4. A distributed backup system, wherein the client can further ensure data guarantee by holding a backup in the client, in addition to performing backup to a backup server. 5. The client, when transferring a file to a backup server, generates differential data with respect to a previously backed up file and transfers the differential data to reduce the communication amount and perform backup. A distributed backup system characterized by.