Template-based remote/local file selection techniques for modular backup and migration

Abstract

File selection techniques that can handle overlapping module contexts provide flexible and reversible backup, restore, migration, deployment and synchronization operations. Both remote (administrative) control and local (user) control of the file selection are provided. Application and configuration specific templates are provided to a user from the remote administrator for further customization by selecting or de-selecting configurations, applications and/or individual files or configuration entries. The templates may be controlled geographically by the IP address or identity associated with the user. A user's interaction with the customization is saved and the order of changes is maintained, so that when the templates are updated, the user's customizations can be re-applied. The administrator may override user settings based on rules, which may also be geographically determined. The file selection may also be altered based on media type and location, e.g., local backup vs. server backup.

1 . A computer-performed method for selecting files and/or configuration entries for backup, migration, restoration or synchronization comprising:
 reading a template specifying one or more applications, wherein a collection of files is specified for transfer between a workstation and a storage location for each of the one or more applications;   accepting multiple user inputs modifying the collection of files to produce a local template specifying a modified collection of files;   storing a record of the multiple user inputs including an order of entry of the multiple user inputs; and   transferring the files between the workstation and the storage location in conformity with the modified collection of files.   
   
   
       2 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring the template to the workstation from an administrative server. 
   
   
       3 . The computer-performed method of  claim 2 , further comprising selecting the template in conformity with identifying information associated with the workstation or a user providing the user input, and wherein the transferring transfers the selected template to the workstation from a server. 
   
   
       4 . The computer-performed method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transferring a template update to the workstation subsequent to the transferring the template to the workstation, the accepting of multiple user inputs and the storing a record, and updating the local template according to the template update;   retrieving the record of the multiple user inputs;   modifying the updated template according the record of the multiple user inputs, wherein the multiple user inputs are applied according to the order of entry stored in the record; and   updating the local template according to the modified updated template.   
   
   
       5 . The computer-performed method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving an object specifying an administrative override at the workstation, whereby at least one file specified by the accepting multiple user inputs is excluded from or included in the modified collection of files in accordance with the administrative override, and wherein the transferring is performed in further conformity with exclusions or inclusions in the modified collection of files made by the administrative override. 
   
   
       6 . The computer-performed method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a media type or location of the storage location, and selectively including files in or excluding files from the modified collection of files used by the transferring in conformity with the detected media type or location of the storage location. 
   
   
       7 . A computer system comprising a workstation processor for executing workstation program instructions and a memory coupled to the processor for executing the workstation program instructions, wherein the workstation program instructions include workstation program instructions for selecting files and/or configuration entries for backup, migration, restoration or synchronization, wherein the workstation program instructions comprise program instructions for:
 reading a template specifying one or more applications, wherein a collection of files is specified for transfer between a workstation and a storage location for each of the one or more applications;   accepting multiple user inputs modifying the collection of files to produce a local template specifying a modified collection of files;   storing a record of the multiple user inputs including an order of entry of the multiple user inputs; and   transferring the files between the workstation and the storage location in conformity with the modified collection of files.   
   
   
       8 . The computer system of  claim 7 , further comprising an administrative server coupled to the workstation processor, wherein the administrative server includes a server processor coupled to a server memory for storing server program instructions for execution by the server processor, wherein the server program instructions comprise program instructions for transferring the template to the workstation from an administrative server. 
   
   
       9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the server program instructions further comprise program instructions for selecting the template in conformity with identifying information associated with the workstation or a user providing the user input, and wherein the server program instructions for transferring transfers the selected template to the workstation from a server. 
   
   
       10 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the server program instructions further comprise program instructions for transferring a template update to the workstation subsequent to the transferring the template to the workstation, and wherein the workstation program instructions further comprise program instructions for:
 retrieving the record of the multiple user inputs;   modifying the updated template according the record of the multiple user inputs, wherein the multiple user inputs are applied according to the order of entry stored in the record; and   updating the local template according to the modified updated template.   
   
   
       11 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the workstation program instructions further comprise program instructions for receiving an object specifying an administrative override, whereby at least one file specified by a user input received by the program instructions for accepting multiple user inputs is excluded from or included in the modified collection of files in accordance with the administrative override, and wherein the program instructions for transferring transfer the files in further conformity with exclusions or inclusions in the modified collection of files made by the administrative override. 
   
   
       12 . The computer system of  claim 7 , wherein the workstation program instructions further comprise program instructions for:
 detecting a media type or location of the storage location; and   selectively including files in or excluding files from the modified collection of files used by the program instructions for transferring in conformity with the detected media type or location of the storage location.   
   
   
       13 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable storage media encoding workstation program instructions for execution on a workstation computer system, wherein the workstation program instructions include workstation program instructions for selecting files and/or configuration entries for backup, migration, restoration or synchronization, wherein the workstation program instructions comprise program instructions for:
 reading a template specifying one or more applications, wherein a collection of files is specified for transfer between a workstation and a storage location for each of the one or more applications;   accepting multiple user inputs modifying the collection of files to produce a local template specifying a modified collection of files;   storing a record of the multiple user inputs including an order of entry of the multiple user inputs; and   transferring the files between the workstation and the storage location in conformity with the modified collection of files.   
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the workstation program instruction further comprise program instructions for receiving the template from an administrative server. 
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the workstation program instructions further comprise program instructions for:
 receiving a template update from the administrative server;   retrieving the record of the multiple user inputs;   modifying the updated template according the record of the multiple user inputs, wherein the multiple user inputs are applied according to the order of entry stored in the record; and   updating the local template according to the modified updated template.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the workstation program instructions further comprise program instructions for receiving an object specifying an administrative override, whereby at least one file specified by a user input received by the program instructions for accepting multiple user inputs is excluded from or included in the modified collection of files in accordance with the administrative override, and wherein the program instructions for transferring transfer the files in further conformity with exclusions or inclusions in the modified collection of files made by the administrative override. 
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the workstation program instructions further comprise program instructions for:
 detecting a media type or location of the storage location; and   selectively including files in or excluding files from the modified collection of files used by the program instructions for transferring in conformity with the detected media type or location of the storage location.   
   
   
       18 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable storage media encoding server program instructions for execution on a server computer system, wherein the server program instructions include server program instructions for maintaining templates of files and/or configuration entries for backup, migration, restoration or synchronization associated with applications or sets of applications, wherein the server program instructions comprise program instructions for:
 transferring the templates to a workstation computer system; and   receiving a transfer of files from the workstation computer system for storage in a storage location managed by the server computer system, wherein the transfer of files is specified in part by one or more of the templates and in part by modifications made at the workstation computer system.   
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the server program instructions further include program instructions for:
 determining identifying information associated with the workstation or a user of the workstation computer system; and   selecting particular ones of the templates for transfer by the server program instructions for transferring in conformity with the determined identifying information.   
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the server program instructions further include program instructions for transferring administrative overrides to the workstation computer system, and wherein the transfer of files is further specified by the modifications made at the workstation computer system as qualified by the administrative overrides.