Selective data replication system and method

1. A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions, which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for copying data stored in a first copy data set, the method comprising:

identifying, in the first copy data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion based at least in part on a data-specific ID,

wherein the data-specific ID is associated with a software application for the data item or is associated with a file type for the data item; and

copying to a second copy data set at least a portion of the data item,

wherein the copying is based on one of at least two differing storage preferences, and wherein the one storage preference is based on the data-specific ID,

indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria,

wherein the data item indicated is de-indicated after the data item is copied to the second copy data set, and

wherein the data item indicated will not be pruned by a pruning program unless the data item is first de-indicated.

2. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein identifying the data item comprises identifying a full copy within a primary copy data set of application data or within an auxiliary copy data set of application data.

3. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the selection criterion further comprises a time criterion, wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a time the data item was stored to the time criterion, wherein the time criterion comprises a day of a week for a day of a month, and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a day of the week the data item was stored to the day of the week or to the day of the month.

4. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion further comprises a time criterion and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a time the data item was stored to the time criterion.

5. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion further comprises a cycle criterion and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a number of cycles occurring since the data item was stored to the cycle criterion, and wherein the cycle criterion comprises a number of full copies performed and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a number of full copies performed since the data item was stored to the number of full copies.

6. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion further comprises a cycle criterion and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a number of cycles occurring since the data item was stored to the cycle criterion.

7. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria, wherein indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion comprises associating, in a matrix, information with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.

8. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria, wherein indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion comprises associating, in a data structure, information with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.

9. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria, wherein the data item indicated is de-indicated after the data item is copied to the second copy data set, and wherein de-indicating the data item comprises removing, in a data structure, information associated with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria, wherein the data item indicated is de-indicated after the data item is copied to the second copy data set.

11. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the data item comprises a full copy of application data.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein copying at least a portion of the data item comprises performing an auxiliary copy of at least a portion of the data item.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the copying of at least a portion of the data item is a restart-able operation.

15. A system for copying electronic data, the system comprising:

storage means for storing at least

a first copy data set containing one or more data items;

a second copy data set; and

data processing means, coupled to the storage means, for identifying, in the first copy data set, a first data item satisfying a selection criteria based at least in part on a data-specific ID,

wherein the data-specific ID is associated with a software application for the data item or is associated with a file type for the data item; and

wherein the data processing means includes means for copying at least a portion of the first data item from the first copy data set to the second copy data set,

wherein the copying is based on one of at least two differing storage preferences, and wherein the one storage preference is based on the data-specific ID, and

wherein the data processing means further comprises means for marking that the data item satisfies the selection criteria;

wherein the data item indicated is unmarked after the data item is copied to the second copy data set, and

wherein the data item indicated will not be pruned unless the data item is first unmarked.

16. A method for copying electronic data stored in a first copy data set, the method comprising:

identifying, in the first copy data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion based at least in part on a data-specific ID,

wherein the data-specific ID is associated with a software application for the data item or is associated with a file type for the data item; and

copying to a second copy data set at least a portion of the data item, and

wherein the copying is based on one of at least two differing storage preferences, and wherein the one storage preference is based on the data-specific ID,

indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria,

wherein the data item is no longer indicated after the data item is copied to the second copy data set, and

wherein the data item indicated will not be pruned unless the data item is no longer indicated.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein identifying the data item comprises identifying a full copy within a primary copy data set of application data or within an auxiliary copy data set of application data.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the selection criterion further comprises a time criterion and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a time the data item was stored to the time criterion.