Data base backup and recovery system and method

Claim 1

In a data processing system including a transaction processor for processing transactions against a primary data base and logging audit information related to the transactions, and first and second audit storage devices directly coupled to the data processing system, a method for maintaining a backup data base of the primary data base, comprising the steps of: establishing a backup data base of the primary data base, wherein the backup data base is initially a copy of the primary data base; receiving transactions to process against the primary data base; updating the primary data base according to said transactions; writing by the transaction processor the audit information in a first audit file stored on the first audit storage device and in a second audit file stored on the second audit storage device; continuously reading said audit information from the second audit file as said audit information is written and said second audit file is available for reading; and updating the backup data base according to said audit information stored in said storage when said reading step detects that said storage is available.

Claim 7

A system for maintaining a backup data base of a primary data base, comprising: a first data processing system; first secondary storage means coupled to said first data processing system for storing the primary data base; transaction processing means operable on said first data processing system for providing access to information stored in the primary data base, writing audit information to a first audit file, and writing said audit information to a second audit file, wherein said audit information relates to updates to the primary data base; first audit storage means coupled to said transaction processing means for storing said first audit file; second audit storage means directly coupled to said transaction processing means for storing said second audit file; a second data processing system; second secondary storage means coupled to said second data processing system for storing the backup data base; and concurrent recovery processing means operating on said second data processing system for processing in parallel with said transaction processing means, reading audit information from said second audit file immediately after said audit information is written and said second audit file is available for reading, and updating the backup data base according to said audit information read from said second audit file.

Claim 8

A system for maintaining a backup data base of a primary data base, comprising: a first data processing system; first secondary storage means coupled to said first data processing system for storing the primary data base; transaction processing means operable on said first data processing system for providing access to information stored in the primary data base, writing audit information to a first audit file, and writing said audit information to a second audit file, wherein said audit information relates to updates to the primary data base; first audit storage means coupled to said transaction processing means for storing said first audit file; second audit storage means directly coupled to said transaction processing means for storing said second audit file; a second data processing system; second secondary storage means coupled to said second data processing system for storing the backup data base; and concurrent recovery processing means operating on said second data processing system for processing in parallel with said transaction processing means, reading audit information from said second audit file immediately after said audit information is written and said second audit file is available for reading, and updating the backup data base according to said audit information read from said second audit file.