US Patent 7325161 Classification of recovery targets to enable automated protection setup

In one embodiment, a recovery manager may define a plurality of recovery target sets. Each recovery target set comprises a recovery point target, a recovery time target, and at least one other property. The recovery manager also defines a plurality of recovery classes. Each recovery class comprises at least one recovery target set of the plurality of recovery target sets. Each recovery class describes recovery requirements over an asset state life cycle. The recovery manager applies a first recovery class of the plurality of recovery classes to a first asset dependent on an importance of the first asset to an owner of the first asset. In some cases, the first recovery class and/or other recovery classes of the plurality of recovery classes may each be applied to multiple assets. In another embodiment, a recovery manager defines one or more recovery target sets to be applied to one or more assets and saves the one or more recovery target sets. In some embodiments, recovery classes are also saved.