JP2002116938A - File backup method provided with generation management function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform backup without depending on a file form and to easily display, specify or utilize a file backed up for each generation without an intrinsic management file at high speed. SOLUTION: When a prescribed operation is added to at least one file inside a directory 10 after the backup processing of the first time and before the backup processing of the second time, the operation added to the file is identified, the corresponding prescribed operation history file is generated regarding only the at least one file to which the operation is added, all the files of a latest backup directory 11 are replaced with the operation history file and the generation backup directory 11' of the name 'Backup-1' is attained. Then, another latest backup directory 12 of the name 'Backup-2' is newly generated inside a backup destination directory and the latest backup directory 12 is synchronized so as to be in the same file state as all the plural files stored in the directory 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file backup method having a generation management function, and more particularly to a latest backup file synchronized with a backup source file and a past file status at the time of a certain backup process. The present invention relates to a new file backup method for managing a plurality of generations of backup files that can be restored retroactively to a file that is always available using a tree-like directory structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Programs to be executed by a computer or data to be processed are stored in various types of storage devices built in the computer in the form of ordinary files. Normal computer OS (operating
System) has a file system that stores and manages files in directories having a tree-like hierarchical structure as standard.

When an operation is performed on a file, the user may want to manage the operation history as generation information. For example, application software for generationally managing source code in a computer program development environment is already known. However, this software has one program under development.
It is assumed that generation management is performed for each line and a plurality of programs are managed as a project, and general graphics data, audio data, and the like cannot be managed.

On the other hand, backup utility software corresponding to various OSs called a so-called backup tool has already been provided. Most commercial backup tools have full backup and incremental backup functions.To restore the latest file state or the file state at a past point in time, the backup data and the backup used for that backup Prepare tools at the same time,
It must be used, which is inconvenient for operation. There is mirroring as a backup method. In mirroring, although it is possible to synchronize the backup source file with the latest file state, it is not possible to restore the file state to a certain point in time in the past.

[0005] Further, this type of conventional backup tool generally stores a file at the time of the first backup processing as a base file, and thereafter stores and manages operations added to the file as a difference information file. For this purpose, the conventional backup tool has a management file unique to the backup tool that records the status of the target file such as the relationship between the base file and the difference information for each generation. Therefore, if the management file is lost or damaged for some reason, it becomes impossible to restore the old generation file. Also, if the backup tool itself fails, the backed up files cannot be used, so the backup tool needs to be reinstalled, and in the worst case, the backed up files are lost. Was.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to be able to back up a file without depending on the file format and to have a unique It is an object of the present invention to provide a file backup method having a generation management function capable of quickly and easily displaying, specifying, or using a file backed up for each generation without the management file.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a generation management function capable of avoiding wasteful storage of files having the same contents in a plurality of generation backup directories and of accelerating backup processing. It is to provide a file backup method.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a file backup method having a generation management function according to the first invention stores a plurality of files stored in a backup source directory as backup files. One latest backup directory for backup and each past backup process
When any of the files stored in the backup source directory has been subjected to a predetermined operation,
A plurality of generation backup directories for storing, for each generation, an operation history file corresponding to the file to which the predetermined operation has been added are provided in a tree shape below the backup destination directory. If at least one file stored in the backup source directory has been subjected to a predetermined operation in relation to a file stored in the latest backup directory until the next backup processing point in time, All the files stored in the backup directory are replaced with the latest operation history file to be a generation backup directory of one generation before, another another backup directory is newly generated, and the backup is made in another generated backup directory. Duplicating a plurality of files stored in a directory, characterized in that a new most recent backup directory.

According to the present invention, the file stored in the backup source directory is mirrored in the latest backup directory in the backup destination directory. Therefore, the latest file can be displayed, designated, or used quickly and easily regardless of the operation history file generated in the past backup processing.

[0009] In the backup destination directory,
In addition to the latest backup directory, a plurality of generation backup directories are provided in a tree-like hierarchical structure, so that each generation can be identified at a glance. Therefore, past files can be displayed, designated, or used quickly and easily using the generation as a key.

[0010] Further, each generation backup directory has a predetermined operation (file addition, file addition, etc.) received at the time of each backup processing when a file stored in the latest backup directory is compared with a file in the backup source directory. In response to the deletion or change of the file contents), only the file on which such an operation has been performed is stored as the operation history file, and the file on which the operation has not been performed is not stored. As a result, it is possible to avoid waste of storing files of the same content in a plurality of generation backup directories redundantly.

A file backup method having a generation management function according to a second invention is characterized in that one latest backup directory for storing a plurality of files stored in a backup source directory as backup files, and each past backup directory. At the time of processing, when any of the files stored in the backup source directory has been subjected to a predetermined operation, the operation history file corresponding to the file to which the predetermined operation has been performed is stored in a plurality of generations earlier. A plurality of generation backup directories are respectively provided in the form of a tree below the backup destination directory, and the backup source directory is stored between the time of the immediately preceding backup processing and the time of performing the next backup processing. Stored When at least one file has been subjected to a predetermined operation in relation to the file stored in the latest backup directory, the directory names of the plurality of generation backup directories are changed by one from the oldest generation. Rename the directory name before the generation, newly generate a generation backup directory having the same directory name as the backup directory of the latest generation among the plurality of generation backup directories before the rename, and store the latest generation backup directory in the generated generation backup directory. Store the operation history file of
The latest backup directory is synchronized so as to have the same file state as a plurality of files stored in the backup source directory.

In the second invention, when performing the backup process, the directory names of the plurality of generation backup directories are renamed to the directory names of one generation before in order from the oldest generation. Since each directory name of the generation backup directory after renaming accurately reflects the number of generations before the latest backup directory at the time of backup processing, multiple generation backup directories are provided in a tree-like hierarchical structure. This makes it easy to identify and manage each generation. Also, the renaming does not involve copying or moving files in the directory, thereby realizing high-speed backup processing.

[0013] In the first invention and the second invention, the predetermined operation includes adding a file, deleting a file, or changing a file content in relation to a file stored in the latest backup directory. Operation. Also, the latest operation history file is
In the case of adding a file, the marker file indicating the adding operation is included, and in the case of deleting the file or changing the file content, the file stored in the latest backup directory before the deletion or change is included.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file backup method having a generation management function, wherein one latest backup directory for storing a plurality of files stored in a backup source directory as backup files, and each past backup directory. At the time of processing, if any file stored in the backup source directory has been subjected to a predetermined operation,
From the first generation to the first generation for storing the operation history file corresponding to the file to which the predetermined operation has been performed up to m generations (where m is the number of generations to be managed and an integer of 2 or more). A generation backup directory of up to m generations is provided in a tree shape below the backup destination directory, and at least one file stored in the backup source directory is stored between the previous backup processing point and the next backup processing point. ,
When a predetermined operation is performed in relation to a file stored in the latest backup directory, the following processing is performed. (1) Delete the first generation backup directory. (2) Rename the second to mth generation backup directories to the directory names of the previous generation backup directory. (3) Create a new mth generation backup directory. (4) Identify a predetermined operation performed on a file stored in the backup source directory. (5) If the identified operation is either deletion of a file or modification of the file contents, the corresponding file stored in the latest backup directory is copied or moved to the mth generation backup directory and identified. If the performed operation is the addition of a file, the latest operation history file is stored in the mth generation backup directory by generating and storing a marker file indicating the addition operation in the mth generation backup directory. I do. (6) The latest backup directory is synchronized so as to have the same file state as a plurality of files stored in the backup source directory.

In the first and second aspects of the present invention, one generation backup directory is added to the backup directory for each backup process, so that the number of generation backup directories increases in proportion to the number of backup processes. To increase. Although it depends on the capacity of the external storage device where the backup directory is created, it is theoretically possible to always manage hundreds or thousands of generations of backup directories and operation history files of each generation stored in them. It is possible. However, in reality, the backup file of a new generation is frequently used, while the older the generation, the more rapidly the backup file is used. Therefore, it is often sufficient to store older files exceeding a certain limit as separate archives in another recording medium or storage device and manage them so that they are always available until a predetermined generation. Therefore, in the third invention, the generation management number is set to a predetermined finite number (m), and when performing backup processing more than the generation number, the first generation generation backup directory is deleted and then the second generation generation directory is deleted. For the mth generation backup directory from the generation backup directory, those directory names are sequentially renamed to the directory name of the previous generation generation backup directory, and then the mth generation backup directory is newly generated and updated there. A desired backup process is realized by generating and storing an operation history file.

In the first to third aspects of the present invention, a list describing a file name, a file size, and an update date and time of a file stored in a backup source directory is created, and the list is stored in the latest backup directory of the backup destination directory. For the stored file, it is preferable to create a list describing the file name, file size, and update date and time, and identify the operation performed on the file by matching both lists.

In the third invention, it is preferable that before deleting the first generation backup directory, the operation history file stored in the directory is stored in another archive directory. This is so that, in the unlikely event, the old file state can be restored based on the operation history file in the archive directory.

The term of the directory is a well-known UN.
It is widely known as a term for describing a file system in the OS of IX (registered trademark), Linux, and MS-DOS. On the other hand, another OS, Windows
Those skilled in the art understand that the term “folder” in ws (registered trademark) and MacOS (registered trademark) also has the same concept as this directory. Therefore, the term directory as used in the present invention refers to other operating systems.
Is understood as a term including the concept of a folder in. It is also widely known to those skilled in the art that in a known file system, a directory or a folder itself can be handled in the same manner as a normal file. Thus, the term file used in the present invention is understood to include a directory or folder storing at least one file.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but is described in the claims. It goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a file backup method having a generation management function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. An example is shown in which generation management up to the previous generation is performed.

The backup source directory 1 is one directory located on a storage device built in the computer used by the user, for example, a hard disk.
By operating the keyboard or selecting an icon on the computer display in the GUI environment, the user can arbitrarily select one directory in which a plurality of files to be backed up are registered. On the other hand, the backup destination directory 2 is another directory located in another storage device such as a magnetic recording medium, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk connected to the computer via an interface. The file is backed up under predetermined generation management. The backup destination directory 2 can be specified by the user by operating the keyboard or selecting an icon.

The procedure of the file backup method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the example shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the user selects one directory 10 named “Original” provided in the backup source directory 1 and backs up a plurality of files stored in the directory to the backup destination directory 2.

[First Backup] In the first backup process, a new backup directory 11 named “Backup_1” is newly created in the backup destination directory 2 and “Original”
All of the files stored in the directory 10 are duplicated in the same file state, and the latest backup directory 1
1 is stored.

[Second Backup] A predetermined operation (addition of a file, addition of a file, etc.) is performed on at least one file in the “Original” directory 10 after the first backup processing until the second backup processing.
File deletion or file content change operation). First, the operation performed on the file is identified as described below. And
As described below, at least one of the operations
A predetermined operation history file corresponding to only one of the files is generated, and all the files stored in the latest backup directory 11 are replaced with the operation history file to create a generation backup directory 11 ′ named “Backup_1”. .

Next, another newest backup directory 12 named “Backup_2” is newly created in the backup destination directory 2 so as to be in the same file state as all of the plurality of files stored in the directory 10. “Backup_2” synchronizes the latest backup directory 12.

[Third Backup] It is assumed that a predetermined operation is performed on at least one file in the “Original” directory 10 after the second backup processing until the third backup processing.
First, the operation performed on the file is identified as in the case of the second backup process. Next, a predetermined operation history file corresponding to only at least one file to which a predetermined operation has been added is generated, and all files stored in the latest backup directory 12 are replaced with the operation history file, and “Bac
A generation backup directory 12 'named "kup_2".

Next, another newest backup directory 13 named “Backup_3” is newly created in the backup destination directory 2, and a plurality of files stored in the directory 10 are stored in “Backup_3”.
3) Copy to the latest backup directory 13

[Nth Backup] The fourth and subsequent backup processes are executed in the same manner as the second and third backup processes. As a result, in the backup destination directory 2 after the n-th backup process,
As shown in the figure, the latest backup directory 14 named “Backup_n” in which the latest file in the “Original” directory 10 in the backup source directory is always mirrored, and (n
-1) Generation backup directories 11 ′, 12 ′ named “Backup_1”, “Backup_2”... In which operation history files up to the generation are stored, respectively.
…It is included. The “Backup_1” generation backup directory 11 ′ has the directory 1
The operation history file of (n−1) generations before the latest file of 0 is stored in the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 12 ′, and the operation history file of (n−2) generations before is stored in the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 12 ′. "Bac
The “kup_n−1” generation backup directory contains
The operation history file of the previous generation is stored.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a file backup method having a generation management function according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, for convenience of explanation, a user starts from the latest file state. An example is shown in which generation management up to two generations before (m = 2) can be performed retroactively.

The procedure of the file backup method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the example shown in FIG. Here, as in the case of the first embodiment, the user
“Orig provided in backup source directory 1
It is assumed that one directory 10 named “inal” is selected, and a plurality of files stored in the directory are backed up to the backup destination directory 2.

[First Backup] In the first backup process, a newest backup directory 20 named "Backup_0" is newly created in the backup destination directory, and all the files stored in the "Original" directory 10 are made the same. The latest backup directory 20
To be stored.

[Second Backup] After a first backup process and before a second backup process, a predetermined operation (addition of a file, addition of a file,
File deletion or file content change operation). First, the operation performed on the file is identified as described below. At the time of this backup processing, there is no generation management backup directory for generation management.
Generation backup directory 21 named “_1”
Generate Then, as described later, a predetermined operation history file corresponding to only the operated file is generated and stored in the “Backup_1” generation backup directory 21.

Next, the “Backup_0” latest backup directory 20 is synchronized so that all the files stored in the “Original” directory 10 have the same file state.

[Third Backup] Between the second backup processing and the third backup processing, at least one file in the “Original” directory 10 is added, deleted, or deleted. Assume that one of the operations of changing the file contents is performed. First, the operation performed on the file is identified as in the case of the second backup process. At the time of this backup processing, only a generation backup directory 21 named “Backup_1” exists as a generation backup directory for generation management, so a new generation backup directory 22 named “Backup_2” is newly generated. Then, a predetermined operation history file corresponding to only the operated file is generated and stored in the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 22.

Next, the “Backup_0” latest backup directory 20 is synchronized so that all of the plurality of files stored in the “Original” directory 10 have the same file state.

[Fourth Backup] After the third backup processing and before the fourth backup processing, a file is added to or deleted from at least one file in the “Original” directory 10. , Or any of the operations of changing the file contents is performed. First, the operation performed on the file is identified in the same manner as in the second and third backup processes. At the time of this backup processing, the “Backup_1” generation backup directory 21 and the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 22 already exist as generation management generation backup directories, and the number of generation backup directories is the same as the number of generations to be managed. Therefore, the following processing is performed.

First, of the two generations managed, the operation history files stored in the “Backup_1” generation backup directory 21 corresponding to the first generation are all stored in another directory 3 named “Archives”.
0, and then delete the "Backup_1" generation backup directory 21. Next, the name of the generation backup directory 22 is changed to “Backup_2”.
Is renamed to “Backup_1” which is the directory name of the previous generation backup directory.

Next, a generation backup directory 22 is newly created with the name "Backup_2". Then, a predetermined operation history file corresponding to only the operated file is generated, and the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 2 is generated.
2 is stored.

Next, the “Backup_0” latest backup directory 20 is synchronized so that all the files stored in the “Original” directory 10 have the same file state.

The backup processing for the fifth and subsequent times is performed in the fourth
The backup process is executed in the same manner as the first backup process, whereby the latest file in the “Original” directory 10 in the backup source directory 1 is always mirrored in the “Backup_0” latest backup directory 20. Of the two generation backup directories, the “Backup — 1” generation backup directory 21 stores the operation history file two generations before the latest file in the “Backup”.
The operation history file of one generation before is stored in the “p_2” generation backup directory 22.

FIG. 3 shows the hierarchical structure of each directory when files stored in the “Original” directory 10 are backed up from the backup source directory 1 to the backup destination directory 2 according to the backup method shown in FIG. Is shown.

Referring to the backup destination directory 2, a directory named "Backup" is provided, and under the directory, "Bac" is set as a subdirectory.
The latest backup directory 20 named “kup — 0” and “Backup — 1” and “Backup —
Two generation backup directories 21 and 22 named “_2” are provided in a tree shape.

In the "Backup_0" latest backup directory 20, a group of files stored in the directory 10 named "Original" of the backup source directory 1 (in this example, A.text,
B. image, D.E. text, E.C. All of the four audio files) are stored in their entirety in the same file state.

On the other hand, in the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 22, B.P. image, C.I. te
xt, _NEW_E. Three operation history files named “audio” are stored. These operation history files are stored in “Bac
"kup_0" Only files of which file addition, file deletion, and file content are changed in the file group stored in the latest backup directory 20 are supported.

Here, file name_NEW_E. aud
The file of io is a marker file, and at the time of the last backup processing, the E.io This file has no entity indicating that a file named audio is newly added.

On the other hand, A. text, B .; As can be seen from the comparison with the file stored in the “Backup_0” latest backup directory 20, the file “B. The image file is a file in a state before the change when the file content is changed at the time of the last backup processing. C.I. The text file is "Backup
As is apparent from the fact that the corresponding file does not exist in the latest backup directory 20, the file is in a state before the deletion when the file is deleted at the time of the last backup processing.

That is, in the “Backup_2” generation backup directory 22, a file having a content that is one generation older than the file in the latest state (a file in a state before the file is deleted and the file contents are not changed) and a file are added. Stores a marker file indicating that there was a match.

Next, looking at the “Backup_1” generation backup directory 21, text, C.I. t
ext, _NEW_D. The three operation history files of text are stored. These operation history files correspond only to files whose files have been added or whose file contents have been changed at the time of the backup processing one time before the last backup processing.

That is, in the “Backup — 1” generation backup directory 21, the files when the backup processing is two generations older than the latest file (in this example, the files A. text and C. .Text) and a marker file _NEW_D. te
xt is stored.

Although the generation management is limited to two generations in the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3, the file backup method according to the second embodiment employs generation generation up to m generations (m is an integer of 2 or more) as described below. Can manage.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, an algorithm of a backup process capable of managing generations up to m generations (m is an integer of 2 or more) will be described in detail.

First, it is checked whether a file to be backed up exists in the backup source directory (S100). If the file does not exist, an error message is output, and the process ends (S110).

Next, it is checked whether or not the latest backup directory exists in the backup destination directory (S120). If not, a latest backup directory is created (S130). Then, all the files in the backup source directory are duplicated and stored in the latest backup directory in the same file state, and the process ends (S140). This corresponds to the first backup.

If the latest backup directory already exists (for the second and subsequent backups), at least the file name of the file stored in the backup source directory and the file stored in the latest backup directory in the backup destination directory , A file size, and a list describing the update date are created, and the two are matched (S15).
0).

As an example of these lists, the file name, file size and update date are stored in CSV format (Co
mma Separated Value Format
According to t), one line can be described for each file, and a list sorted using the file name as a key can be used.

Note that instead of creating a list of files stored in the latest backup directory,
A list of files stored in the backup source directory created at the time of the immediately preceding backup processing is stored as another file, and that file is used as a list of files stored in the latest backup directory at the time of the next backup processing You can also. As a result, the time required for creating a list of files stored in the latest backup directory can be omitted, and the processing time can be reduced.

When the two lists are matched, in the case of the above-described list, the lists are matched line by line, and there is a mismatch between any two or more of the file name, the file size, and the update date. You can check whether or not. When there is a mismatch in the file names, it is known that a file has been added or a file has been deleted. On the other hand, if the file name is the same but the file size or the update date does not match, it is known that the file content has been changed.

As a result of the matching, when a predetermined operation is not performed on the file (when there is no file addition, file deletion or file content change), the processing is terminated, and when the predetermined operation is performed. Performs the following processing (S160).

Next, referring to FIG. 5, first, it is checked whether the number (n) of the existing generation backup directories is smaller than the number of generations (m) to be managed (S1).
80).

If n <m, the (n + 1) th generation backup directory is created (S190). Then, the operation history file is generated and stored in the (n + 1) th generation backup directory by the processing described later (S2
00). Next, the latest backup directory is synchronized so as to have the same file state as all the files in the backup source directory, and the process ends (S2).
60).

On the other hand, if generation backup directories from the first generation to the m-th generation already exist, first, the first
The operation history file in the generation backup directory is stored in the archive directory (S210). Then, the first generation backup directory is deleted (S
220).

Next, the directory names of the generation backup directories from the second generation to the m-th generation are respectively renamed to the directory names of the generation backup directory one generation before (S230).

A new mth generation backup directory is created (S240).

An operation history file is generated and stored in the m-th generation backup directory by the processing described later (S250).

Lastly, the latest backup directory is synchronized so that all files in the backup source directory have the same file state, and the processing is terminated (S
260).

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, details of the processing for generating and storing the operation history file mentioned in the steps S200 and S250 will be described.

First, it is checked whether or not the added operation is a deletion of a file or a change of file contents (S300). If so, the corresponding file stored in the latest backup directory is copied or moved to the mth generation backup directory (S310). When the number (n) of the existing generation backup directories is smaller than the number of generations (m) to be managed, the copy or transfer destination is the (n + 1) th generation backup directory (from S180 to S200 in FIG. 4). checking). If no operation of adding a file, deleting a file, or changing a file content is performed, the process proceeds to the next process.

Next, it is checked whether or not the added operation is to add a file (S320). If so, a marker file having a unique file name including an additional identification character (NEW) is generated in the mth generation backup directory (S330). As one specific example, it has been shown that a marker file named “_NEW_E.audio” is generated for a file named “E.audio” (see FIG. 2).
The generation destination of the marker file is the generation number (m) managed by the existing generation backup directory number (n).
If it is smaller, it is the (n + 1) th generation backup directory (see S180 to S200 in FIG. 4).

Next, a description will be given of how the file state in the backup source directory at a certain point in the past is restored after performing the backup processing by the file backup method described in the above embodiment.

As described above, in the generation backup directory, for a file to which a predetermined file operation (addition of a file, deletion of a file, or change of a file content) has been performed at the time of executing the backup processing,
Stores operation history files. Of the files, the files deleted or the file contents changed, the latest file stored in the latest backup directory is replaced with the operation history file. On the other hand, with respect to the file to which the file has been added (determined by the marker file), the latest file stored in the latest backup directory is deleted.

If an operation to add another file is performed after the backup processing time of the generation to be restored, all the generation backup directories after the generation to be restored are referenced to It is sufficient to specify the file and delete all the files added to the latest file stored in the latest backup directory. The directory having the past file status restored in this way can be separately generated as a restored directory.

The file backup method having the generation management function of the present invention can be operated on a computer by being programmed so as to be compatible with the operating environment of various OSs. Here, what should be noted in the present invention is that a unique management file that stores the state of a backup target file that has been required conventionally is unnecessary. This means that one latest backup directory and a plurality of generation backup directories created in the present invention are directories that can be displayed, designated or used using only a normal file system provided in the OS, and are stored in these directories. This is because the file to be displayed and the operation history file are also files that can be displayed, specified, or used using only the file system.

In the above description of the embodiment, only files are to be backed up.
Of course, a directory that can be handled equivalently to a file on the file system can be a backup target. In this case, the backup processing of the present invention can be similarly performed recursively on the files included in the directory. It is to be noted that a specific algorithm of the recursive processing is obvious to a person skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

For the purpose of more efficiently searching or displaying backup files for each generation,
It is optional to prepare application software separately. It is also optional to separately prepare application software called a so-called scheduler and periodically execute the file backup method of the present invention.

[0075]

As described above, according to the file backup method having the generation management function according to the present invention,
It has the following effects.

The files stored in the backup source directory are mirrored in the latest backup directory in the backup destination directory. Therefore, the latest files can be transferred at high speed regardless of the operation history files generated in the past backup processing. And it can be easily displayed, specified or used.

The backup destination directory contains
Separately from the latest backup directory, the generation backup directories from the first generation to the m-th generation are provided in a tree-like hierarchical structure, so that the identification of each generation is obvious at a glance, and high-speed past files can be used with the generation as a key. And it can be easily displayed, specified or used.

In each generation backup directory, at the time of each backup processing, such an operation is performed in accordance with the operation that the file stored in the latest backup directory receives in comparison with the file in the backup source directory. Only files are stored as operation history files, and files that have not been operated are not stored. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a waste of storing files of the same content in a plurality of generation backup directories redundantly.

Further, when a backup file is generated and stored in a generation backup directory covering a large number of generations, for a plurality of generation backup directories,
Since those directory names are renamed to the directory name of the generation backup directory of the previous generation, the process of copying or moving a large number of files over a large number of generations is unnecessary, and the backup processing can be speeded up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an outline of a file backup method having a generation management function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a file backup method having a generation management function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of each directory when a backup process is performed from a backup source directory 1 to a backup destination directory 2 according to the backup method shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of a backup process capable of managing generations up to m generations (m is an integer of 2 or more).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (continuation of FIG. 4) showing an algorithm of a backup process capable of managing generations up to m generations (m is an integer of 2 or more).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of processing for generating and storing an operation history file.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Backup source directory 2 Backup destination directory 11, 12, 13, 14, 20 Latest backup directory 11 ', 12', 21, 22, Generation backup directory

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. One latest backup directory for storing a plurality of files stored in a backup source directory as a backup file, and one of backup files stored in the backup source directory at the time of each past backup process When the file has been subjected to a predetermined operation, a plurality of generation backup directories for storing, for each generation, an operation history file corresponding to the file to which the predetermined operation has been performed are stored in a backup destination directory. At least one file stored in the backup source directory is provided in a tree shape at the bottom, between the time of the immediately preceding backup processing and the time of the next backup processing.
When one of the files has been subjected to a predetermined operation in relation to the file stored in the latest backup directory, all the files stored in the latest backup directory are replaced with the latest operation history file to generate one generation. Another new backup directory is newly generated as the previous generation backup directory, and a plurality of files stored in the backup source directory are duplicated in the generated another backup directory to be a new latest backup directory. A file backup method with a generation management function characterized by the following. 2. One latest backup directory for storing a plurality of files stored in a backup source directory as backup files, and any one of the backup source directories stored at the time of each past backup process. When the file has been subjected to a predetermined operation, a plurality of generation backup directories for storing operation history files corresponding to the file to which the predetermined operation has been added up to a plurality of generations ago, At least one file stored in the backup source directory is stored in the latest backup directory between the time of the immediately preceding backup processing and the time of performing the next backup processing. When a predetermined operation has been performed in relation to the stored file, the directory names of the plurality of generation backup directories are renamed to the directory names of one generation before, in order from the oldest generation,
A new generation backup directory having the same directory name as the latest generation backup directory among the plurality of generation backup directories before the rename is newly generated, and the latest operation history file is stored in the generated generation backup directory. A file backup method having a generation management function, wherein the latest backup directory is synchronized so as to have the same file state as a plurality of files stored in a backup source directory. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined operation includes one of an operation of adding a file, deleting a file, or changing a file content in relation to a file stored in the latest backup directory. Item 3. A file backup method having the generation management function according to item 1 or 2. 4. The latest operation history file includes a marker file indicating the addition operation when a file is added, and a deletion or a deletion stored in a latest backup directory when a file is deleted or a file content is changed. 4. The file backup method having a generation management function according to claim 1, wherein the file backup method includes a file before a change is made. 5. A single latest backup directory for storing a plurality of files stored in the backup source directory as backup files, and one of the backup source directories stored at the time of each past backup processing. When the file has been subjected to a predetermined operation, the operation history file corresponding to the file to which the predetermined operation has been applied is m generations (where m is the number of generations to be managed and is an integer of 2 or more) 1) A generation backup directory from the first generation to the m-th generation, which is to be stored before, is provided in the form of a tree below the backup destination directory, from the time of the immediately preceding backup processing to the time of the next backup processing. The backup source directory. When at least one file has been subjected to a predetermined operation in relation to the file stored in the latest backup directory, the following processing is performed. Method. (1) Delete the first generation backup directory. (2) Rename the generation backup directories of the second to mth generations to the directory names of the generation backup directory one generation before. (3) Create a new mth generation backup directory. (4) Identify a predetermined operation performed on a file stored in the backup source directory. (5) If the identified operation is to delete a file or change a file content, copy or move the corresponding file stored in the latest backup directory to the mth generation backup directory, If the identified operation is an addition of a file, a marker file indicating the addition operation is added to the mth file.
The latest operation history file is stored in the m-th generation backup directory by generating and storing it in the generation backup directory of the generation. (6) The latest backup directory is synchronized so as to have the same file state as the plurality of files stored in the backup source directory. 6. A list describing a file name, a file size, and an update date and time of a file stored in the backup source directory is created, and a file stored in the latest backup directory of the backup destination directory is created. Create a list describing the name, file size, and update date and time,
6. The file backup method with a generation management function according to claim 3, wherein an operation added to the file is identified by matching both lists. 7. The generation management function according to claim 5, wherein before deleting the first generation generation backup directory, the operation history file stored in the directory is stored in another archive directory. File backup method with.