ARCHIVING DATA OBJECTS USING SECONDARY COPIES

摘要

A system for archiving data objects using secondary copies is disclosed. The system creates one or more secondary copies of primary copy data that contains multiple data objects. The system maintains a first data structure that tracks the data objects for which the system has created secondary copies and the locations of the secondary copies. To archive data objects in the primary copy data, the system identifies data objects to be archived, verifies that previously-created secondary copies of the identified data objects exist, and replaces the identified data objects with stubs. The system maintains a second data structure that both tracks the stubs and refers to the first data structure, thereby creating an association between the stubs and the locations of the secondary copies. Notably, the system archives data objects in primary copy data without creating an additional or other secondary copy of the data objects. Instead, the association between the two data structures allows stubs to point to or refer to the previously-created secondary copy of the data objects. Accordingly, the existence of the previously-created secondary copy of the data objects allows the system to forego creating an additional or other secondary copy of the data objects, thereby saving resources.