CLIENT SUPPORT OF MULTIPLE FINGERPRINT FORMATS FOR DATA FILE SEGMENTS

If a client is configured to create fingerprints for data file segments, the configured client identifies any format specified for fingerprints created by the configured client, and identifies fingerprint formats, including a first fingerprint format and/or a second fingerprint format, supported by a backup server associated with the configured client. If the fingerprint formats supported by the backup server includes any format specified for fingerprints created by the configured client, the configured client partitions the backup server to store fingerprints created by the configured client. The configured client creates fingerprints for segments of a data file identified for backup, and sends the created fingerprints to the configured backup server. The configured client identifies a request from the configured backup server for a segment, of the data file, which corresponds to a non-duplicate fingerprint; and sends the requested segment to the configured backup server, which stores the requested segment.