Kernel swapping systems and methods for recovering a network device

1. A method for recovering a failed client device in a computer network, the method comprising:

booting a failed one of a plurality of client computing devices in a computer network with a generic image having a generic kernel usable with each of the plurality of client computing devices;

downloading, using said generic kernel, from at least one backup server an abbreviated kernel uniquely associated with the failed client computing device, the abbreviated kernel comprising substantially less data than an original kernel of the failed client computing device immediately prior to failure of the failed client computing device, the abbreviated kernel comprising a boot kernel image and at least one device driver;

swapping the abbreviated kernel with the generic kernel;

restoring, using said abbreviated kernel, remaining backup data from the at least one backup server to the failed client computing device; and

rebooting the failed client computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said abbreviated kernel comprises a size between approximately thirty and approximately 250 megabytes (MB).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said abbreviated kernel comprises a size less than ten percent the size of said original kernel.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said abbreviated kernel comprises a size less than five percent the size of said original kernel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said abbreviated kernel does not comprise utilities.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said abbreviated kernel does not comprise libraries.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said abbreviated kernel comprises a non-bootable image.

8. The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising, prior to said downloading, receiving a user selection of the abbreviated kernel from a plurality of abbreviated kernels uniquely associated with the failed client computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 , additionally comprising providing via a user interface a graphical indication of the plurality of abbreviated kernels uniquely associated with the failed client computing device.

10. A data recovery system comprising:

a plurality of client computing devices;

at least one backup server in network communication with the plurality of client computing devices, the at least one backup server storing for each of the plurality of client computing devices at least one abbreviated kernel uniquely associated with the corresponding client computing device, each abbreviated kernel comprising substantially less data than an original kernel of the corresponding client computing device and including a boot kernel image and at least one device driver; and

a storage medium comprising a generic image having a standard kernel usable to boot each of the plurality of client computing devices, wherein the generic image enables a failed client computing device of the plurality of client computing devices to,

download from the at least one backup server the abbreviated kernel corresponding to the failed client computing device, and

swap the downloaded abbreviated kernel with the standard kernel.

11. The data recovery system of claim 10 , wherein the downloaded abbreviated kernel is configured to instruct the failed client computing device to restore remaining backup data from the at least one backup server to the failed client computing device.

12. The data recovery system of claim 10 , wherein the downloaded abbreviated kernel comprises a size between approximately thirty and approximately 250 megabytes (MB).

13. The data recovery system of claim 10 , wherein the downloaded abbreviated kernel comprises a size less than ten percent the size of the original kernel associated with the failed client computing device.

14. The data recovery system of claim 13 , wherein the downloaded abbreviated kernel comprises a size less than five percent the size of the original kernel associated with the failed client computing device.

15. The data recovery system of claim 10 , wherein the downloaded abbreviated kernel is associated with a LINUX operating system.

16. The data recovery system of claim 15 , wherein the generic image is at least ten times the size of the downloaded abbreviated kernel.

17. A system for recovering a failed client device, the system comprising:

means for booting a failed one of a plurality of client computing devices in a computer network, said means for booting storing a generic image having a generic kernel usable with each of the plurality of client computing devices;

means for storing at least one abbreviated kernel for each of the plurality of client computing devices, each abbreviated kernel comprising substantially less data than an original kernel of the corresponding client computing device and including a boot kernel image and at least one device driver;

means for downloading from said storing means a selected one of the plurality of abbreviated kernels that is uniquely associated with the failed client computing device; and

means for swapping the selected abbreviated kernel with the generic kernel and restoring remaining backup data from said storing means to the failed client computing device.