Data backup and restore system for a computer network having generic remote file system agents for providing backup and restore operations

摘要

A computer network having a number of workstations running disparate operating systems and a file server having a tape drive for backup and restore of data on the network. The file server runs a generic remote file system (GRFS) and workstations run GRFS agent programs which allow the GRFS file system to access data within a workstation having a given GRFS agent program. The GRFS file system interfaces with each GRFS agent program via a command/response paradigm, with the messages being structured to support the disparate operating systems for backup and restore, to allow data to be interchanged between the disparate operating systems, and to allow independent multiple users of the network to request simultaneously backup or restore.