METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NONREDUNDANT BACKUP OF IDENTICAL FILES STORED ON REMOTE COMPUTERS

摘要

Method for backing-up files stored on remote computers to a central computer. The method includes storing a file list in a memory device accessible to the central computer. The file list contains multiple records which each correspond to a file stored at some time on one or more of the remote computers. Each record includes file identification data which identifies a respective file and includes a signature of the respective file. During a backup operation of a remote computer, file identification data is transmitted from the remote computer to the central computer. The central computer compares the file identification data, including the file signature, received from the remote computer with the file identification data of one or more records contained in the file list. If the file identification data received from the remote computer does not match the file identification data of any of the records contained in the file list, the central computer transmits a message to the remote computer instructing the remote computer to transmit the file to the central computer. The central computer further adds a record containing the file identification data to the file list.