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Abstract

An improved method of performing a high-performance backup of a computer system is described, which reduces disk read time and thus gains efficiency by reading input file blocks sequentially rather than the order in which the block appear in the original files. The improved method involves reading the working directory maintained by the operating system to determine all of the blocks associated with the set of files or other data aggregations to be backed up. The data block identities so determined are sorted in accordance with their physical location on the disk, thereby providing a sequential order for reading. The data to be backed up from the random access storage device or devices is read in this sequential order, and written to the backup media. There is also stored in conjunction with the backup media a Catalog containing the names of the files in the backup set, the location of the file data blocks on the backup media, the proper ordering of the blocks in this original file, and any other desired file attribute information.

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First Claim