Backup system

1. A backup system for protecting backup data, the backup system comprising a backup server and a storage system, the storage system comprising:

a data volume that stores data accessed by a business server;

a backup image volume that stores a plurality of backup images at different points in the data volume;

a temporary use volume that temporarily stores the oldest backup image among the plurality of backup images;

a data protection area that includes at least one volume for sequentially storing a snapshot of the oldest backup image stored in the temporary use volume; and

a read-only volume for reading a backup image stored in the data protection area;

wherein the backup system provides the backup image in the data protection area to the backup server by associating the backup image stored in the data protection area with the read-only volume.

2. The backup system according to claim 1 , wherein the backup server further has a copy number for each of the backup images, and backup image management data for managing backup acquisition date and time,

the temporary use volume that temporarily stores the oldest backup image and the backup image management data corresponding to the oldest backup image among the plurality of backup images;

that data protection area including at least one volume for sequentially storing a copy of the oldest backup image stored in the temporary use volume and a copy of backup image management data corresponding to the oldest backup image;

the read-only volume has a volume ID,

wherein the backup image in the data protection area is provided to the backup server by associating the copy number of the backup image stored in the data protection area with the volume ID of the read-only volume.

3. The backup system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the storage system further includes a backup image management volume for storing a copy of the backup image management data of the backup server,

wherein the backup server stores the copy of the backup image management data stored in the backup image management volume in the data protection area.

4. The backup system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the backup server,

compares the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data of the backup server with the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data in the data protection area, in case of the number of copies of the backup image in the data protection area exceeds the upper limit value that can be held in the data protection area,

deletes the oldest backup image stored in the data protection area and the backup image management data corresponding to the backup image are, if the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data of the backup server with the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data in the data protection area match, and

deletes the backup management data corresponding to the deleted backup image from the backup image management data of the backup server.

5. The backup system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the association between the backup image stored in the data protection area and the read only volume is performed using the copy number.

6. The backup system according to claim 5 ,

wherein the backup server receives a designation of a backup image, obtains a copy number corresponding to the received backup image from the backup image management data, and associates the backup image stored in the data protection area with the read only volume according to the obtained copy number.

7. The backup system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the backup server compares a backup acquisition date and time corresponding to the oldest backup image acquired through the read only volume, and a backup corresponding to the oldest backup image of backup image management data managed, and confirms whether the backup image management data managed by the backup server has been altered.

8. The backup system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the backup server restores the backup image management data stored in the data protection area to the backup image management volume when the backup image management data managed by the backup server has been modified, and copies back the backup image management data managed by the backup server based on the backup image management data restored to the backup image management volume.

9. The backup system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the backup server,

stores a check result table for storing a result of virus inspection in a memory for each backup image in the data protection area obtained via the read only volume, when the backup image management data managed by the backup server has not been altered.

10. The backup system according to claim 9 ,

wherein the backup server registers the backup image in the confirmation result table as a restore candidate, when the result of the virus inspection indicates no infection.

11. The backup system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the backup server receives designation of a backup image of the restore candidate, acquires a copy number corresponding to the received backup image from the backup image management data, and restores the backup image in the data protection area by associating the backup image stored in the data protection area with the read only volume according to the obtained copy number.

12. A backup system for protecting backup data, the backup system comprising a backup server and a storage system, the storage system comprising:

a data volume that stores data accessed by a business server;

a backup image volume that stores a plurality of backup images at different points in the data volume;

a temporary use volume that temporarily stores the oldest backup image among the plurality of backup images;

a data protection area that includes at least one volume for sequentially storing a copy of the oldest backup image stored in the temporary use volume; and

a read-only volume that reads a backup image stored in the data protection area;

wherein the backup system provides the backup image in the data protection area to the backup server by associating the backup image stored in the data protection area with the read-only volume.

13. The backup system according to claim 1 , further comprising another read-only volume,

wherein the backup server further has a copy number for each of the backup images, and backup image management data for managing backup acquisition date and time,

the temporary use volume that temporarily stores the oldest backup image and the backup image management data corresponding to the oldest backup image among the plurality of backup images;

that data protection area including at least one volume for sequentially storing a copy of the oldest backup image stored in the temporary use volume and a copy of backup image management data corresponding to the oldest backup image;

each of the read-only volume and the another read-only volume have a volume ID,

wherein the backup image in the data protection area is provided to the backup server by associating the copy number of the backup image stored in the data protection area with the volume ID of the read-only volume or the another read-only volume.

14. The backup system according to claim 13 ,

wherein the storage system further includes a backup image management volume for storing a copy of the backup image management data of the backup server,

wherein the backup server stores the copy of the backup image management data stored in the backup image management volume in the data protection area.

15. The backup system according to claim 14 ,

wherein the backup server,

compares the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data of the backup server with the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data in the data protection area, in case of the number of copies of the backup image in the data protection area exceeds the upper limit value that can be held in the data protection area,

deletes the oldest backup image stored in the data protection area and the backup image management data corresponding to the backup image are, if the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data of the backup server with the oldest copy acquisition date and time of the backup image management data in the data protection area match, and

deletes the backup management data corresponding to the deleted backup image from the backup image management data of the backup server.