The present invention relates to methods and computer readable media for preserving unique critical information during data imaging.
Providing backup data to a hard drive of a computing device is of vital importance in today""s information age. Individuals have become so dependent upon using their computing device, that they have become non functional when the device is inoperable. When a computing device starts up, or is booted up, it uses a hard drive memory associated with the computing device to provide all the necessary data files and data application programs to the user of the device. Some of these files may reside locally on the computing device, while others are provided remotely to the computing device if the computing device is networked with other devices providing files and applications.
A standard process, referred to as hard drive imaging, allows the user to take a snapshot of a hard drive which includes all data included therein and store these data in an image archive. This image archive can be stored off onto additional computer readable media, such as and by way of example only, CDs, diskettes, additional hard drives, and other magnetic or optical storage devices. The image archive can later be used to restore the original computer (and/or any other reasonably compatible device) to the state in which it existed at the time the image archive was created.
During the imaging process all information is captured exactly and precisely. Should a failure occur with a user""s hard drive on the original computer or on a compatible device, the image archive can be used to place all data contained on the original device at the time the image archive onto the current device. This process effectively places the device into the exact state that existed on the original device at the time the image archive was created. Unfortunately, the state duplication is too exact for some applications and network functions.
Some applications and network functions require that certain information be unique among all devices attached to the same network as the current device. For example, TCP/IP networking requires that all addresses on a network be unique. Other networking applications require that each device have a unique name. Yet other applications may require that certain data be the same on a certain administrator-defined group of devices, yet different from all other defined groups.
The results for failing to set these values correctly after an image archive has been restored to the device vary from application to application. Some cause the network components of the device to function incorrectly, or to shut down, resulting in the complete loss of access to the network. Others may results in the user receiving different security access privileges than intended. Results are almost impossible to predict and vary greatly from application to application, but all result in the need for a manual reconfiguration of the device after the image archive has been restored.
Quite often, a device needs to be restored using a different image archive or a similar image having modified identifying information, because some catastrophic event has occurred to make it inoperable. Prior to that event, however, this device would have had valid values for all data requiring any degree of uniqueness. Unfortunately, these values are irretrievably lost during the hard drive imaging process using the different or similar image archive.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide methods and computer readable media to preserve unique critical information during the imaging process and to restore it after the image process has completed. This information is referred to collectively as image-safe data and includes, but is not limited to static IP addresses, workgroup/role identifying information, file permissions, and the like. Using the image archive and the image-safe data a computing device may be effectively restored to a fully functional state, should its main memory (e.g. hard drive) crash, or otherwise become corrupted.
This image-safe data may be stored directly on non-partitioned and unused areas of the hard drive of a user""s computing device, with the typical image archive stored on removable or remote computer readable media. In this way, a user may restore a computer device to a fully functional state using the image safe data recorded on the unusable portions of the hard drive (e.g., non-partitioned areas) and the image archive stored on the removable computer readable media.
Should a hard drive failure occur, even a user not currently connected to the network could be restored to a fully functional state by using the removable media as a boot device. This would then permit the user to reformat the computing device""s hard drive and restore all information properly, including the image safe data. With the image safe data, the user may then successfully connect to a network and identify itself properly or acquire the appropriate programs based on the user""s defined work groups, roles, file permissions, and the like.
Additional objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows and, in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examining or practicing the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, methods and computer readable media are provided for preserving critical information during an imaging process.
A method of augmenting the imaging process of a computer device""s memory is provided, comprising the executable instructions of acquiring information necessary to properly operate one or more network applications or uniquely identify the computing device to a network of additional computing devices. Further, from time to time the information is acquired in one or more storage locations of the computing device, wherein the locations are not partitioned or otherwise used by the computing device.
In another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium is provided, having one or more usable locations wherein the usable locations are operable to be partitioned and used without any significant restrictions. Moreover, one or more reserved locations are used to house information necessary to properly operate one or more network applications or uniquely identify a specific computing device. The reserved locations may not be partitioned and are only accessed by authorized applications.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of restoring a memory associated with a computing device connected to a network of computing devices is provided, having executable instructions wherein from time to time data associated with a memory of a computing device is acquired. Furthermore, from time to time one or more non-partitioned memory locations identifying information which uniquely identifies the computing device is acquired. Upon a request, the data and the identifying information are restored.