MULTIPLE COPY CAPABILITY FOR NETWORK BACKUP SYSTEMS

摘要

A method and apparatus for providing a multiple copy file backup system (210 ) is disclosed in which files that have been previously backed up by a first user are to be backed up by different users. The first instance of backing u p a file results in storing the file and user in an entry in 238808-1a file da ta table (212). For other users needing to backup the same file, the contents o f the file are copied from the first location into a second location within th e file backup storage system (210). The file backup system creates two new entries in the file data table (212). In one entry the file stored in the second location is associated with a User-Pool that allows sharing the file contents among the users. The second and subsequent entries in the file data table (212) will be created as the subsequent users desiring to backup the file. These entries will indicate that the file is provided by the User-Pool and the necessary data will be copied from the User-Pool entry to properly associate the user with the file contents.