U.S. patent application number 15/589662 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-24 for systems and methods for restoring data from network attached storage.
The applicant listed for this patent is Commvault Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ho-chi CHEN, Rajiv KOTTOMTHARAYIL, Duncan LITTLEFIELD.
Application Number | 20170242757 15/589662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39528876 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170242757 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LITTLEFIELD; Duncan ; et
al. |
August 24, 2017 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESTORING DATA FROM NETWORK ATTACHED
STORAGE
Abstract
A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and
routing data in storage operation systems using network attached
storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the system may
include a management module and a media management component
connected to the management server, which interoperate with network
attached storage devices to provide the communicating, browsing,
verifying and routing functions.
Inventors: |
LITTLEFIELD; Duncan;
(Millstone Township, NJ) ; CHEN; Ho-chi;
(Marlboro, NJ) ; KOTTOMTHARAYIL; Rajiv; (Marlboro,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Commvault Systems, Inc. |
Tinton Falls |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
39528876 |
Appl. No.: |
15/589662 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15195195 |
Jun 28, 2016 |
9652335 |
|
|
15589662 |
|
|
|
|
14734282 |
Jun 9, 2015 |
9400803 |
|
|
15195195 |
|
|
|
|
14212080 |
Mar 14, 2014 |
9124611 |
|
|
14734282 |
|
|
|
|
11640730 |
Dec 18, 2006 |
8677091 |
|
|
14212080 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/1827 20190101;
G06F 2201/80 20130101; G06F 16/168 20190101; G06F 11/1464 20130101;
H04L 67/1097 20130101; G06F 11/20 20130101; G06F 16/2308
20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 11/14 20060101
G06F011/14; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08; G06F 11/20 20060101
G06F011/20; G06F 17/30 20060101 G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A method for protecting data in a storage system, the storage
system comprising a management server, a media management component
connected to the management server, at least one network attached
storage device connected to the media management component, and a
data source connected to the management server, the method
comprising: receiving a request to store source data on the network
attached storage device; receiving the source data; adding metadata
to the source data, the meta data being specific to the storage
system; and writing the source data and the metadata to the network
attached storage device.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS
[0001] Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic
priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet, or any
correction thereto, are hereby incorporated by reference under 37
CFR 1.57.
[0002] This application is related to the following patents and
pending applications, each of which is hereby incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety:
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,478, titled PIPELINED HIGH SPEED DATA
TRANSFER MECHANISM, issued Jul. 9, 2002;
[0004] Application Ser. No. 09/610,738, titled MODULAR BACKUP AND
RETRIEVAL SYSTEM USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A STORAGE AREA NETWORK,
filed Jul. 6, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,880, issued Apr. 25,
2006;
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,972, titled Logical View and Access to
Physical Storage in Modular Data and Storage Management System,
issued Apr. 1, 2003;
[0006] Application Ser. No. 10/658,095, titled DYNAMIC STORAGE
DEVICE POOLING IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM, filed Sep. 9, 2003, now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,130,970, issued Oct. 31, 2006;
[0007] Application Ser. No. 10/818,749, titled SYSTEM AND METHOD
FOR PERFORMING STORAGE OPERATIONS IN A COMPUTER NETWORK, filed Apr.
3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,207, issued Jul. 17, 2007;
[0008] Application Ser. No. 11/640,144, titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS
FOR GRANULAR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN A STORAGE NETWORK, filed Dec.
15, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,572,330, issued Oct. 29, 2013.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Field of the Invention
[0010] The invention relates generally to performing storage
operations on electronic data in a computer network, and more
particularly, to facilitating storage operations including data
stored on a network attached storage device.
[0011] The storage of electronic data has evolved over time. During
the early development of the computer, storage of electronic data
was limited to individual computers. Electronic data was stored in
Random Access Memory (RAM) or some other storage medium such as a
magnetic tape or a hard drive that was a part of the computer
itself.
[0012] With the advent of network computing, the storage of
electronic data gradually moved from the individual computer to
dedicated storage devices accessible via a network. Some of these
network storage devices evolved over time into networked tape
drives, optical libraries, Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks
(RAID), CD-ROM jukeboxes, and other devices. Common architectures
also include network attached storage devices (NAS devices) that
are coupled to a particular network (or networks) and are used to
provide storage capability for various storage operations that may
be required by a particular network (e.g., backup operations,
archiving, and other storage operations including the management
and retrieval of such information).
[0013] NAS device typically utilizes a specialized file server or
network attached storage system that connects to the network. A NAS
device often contains a reduced capacity or minimized operating and
file management system (e.g., a microkernel) and normally processes
input/output (I/O) requests by supporting common file sharing
protocols such as the Unix network file system (NFS), DOS/Windows,
and server message block/common Internet file system (SMB/CIFS).
Using traditional local area network protocols such as Ethernet and
transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), a NAS
device typically enables additional storage to be quickly added by
connecting to a network hub or switch.
[0014] Certain storage management procedures, such as hierarchical
storage management (HSM) procedures provides for movement of files
from hard disk to slower, less-expensive storage media, or
secondary storage over time. As shown in FIG. 1, one migration
scheme may include data transfer from a magnetic disk 10 on a
computing device to an optical disk 20 and later to a tape 30.
Conventional data management software usually monitors hard disk
capacity and moves data from one storage level to the next (e.g.,
from production level to primary storage and/or from primary
storage to secondary storage, etc.) based on storage criteria
associated with that data such as a storage policy, age, category
or other criteria as specified by the network or system
administrator. For example, an email system such as MICROSOFT
OUTLOOK.TM.. may have attachments "aged off" (i.e., migrated when
age requirement is met) from production level storage to a network
attached storage device.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a network architecture
of a system 200 for performing storage operations on electronic
data in a computer network in accordance with the prior art. As
shown, system 200 includes a storage manager 201 and one or more of
the following: a data store computer 285, a data store 290, a data
agent 295, a jobs agent 240, a plurality of media management
components 205, which may be referred to as media agents, a
plurality of storage devices 215, a plurality of media management
component index caches 210 and a storage manager index cache
230.
[0016] Data agent 295 is generally a software module that may be
responsible for archiving, migrating, and recovering data of data
store computer 285 stored in a data store 290 or other memory
location. Each data store computer 285 may have a data agent 295
and system 200 can support many data store computers 285.
[0017] Each media management component 205 may maintain an index
cache 210 which stores index data that system 200 generates during
storage operations. The system may maintain two copies of the index
data regarding particular stored data. A first copy may be stored
with the data copied to a storage device 215. Thus, a tape may
contain the stored data as well as index information related to the
stored data. In the event of a system restore, the index data
stored with the stored data can be used to rebuild a media
management component index 205 or other index useful in performing
storage operations.
[0018] In addition, the media management component 205 that
controls the storage operation also may write an additional copy of
the index data to its index cache 210. The data in the media
management component index cache 210 may be stored on faster media,
such as magnetic media, and is thus readily available to the system
for use in connection with storage operations and other activities
without having to be first retrieved from a slower storage device
215.
[0019] Storage manager 201 may also maintain an index cache 230.
Storage manager index cache 230 may be used to indicate, track, and
associate logical relationships and associations between components
of system 200, user preferences, management tasks, and other useful
data. For example, storage manager 201 may use its index cache 230
to track logical associations between media management components
205 and storage devices 215. Index caches 230 and 210 may reside on
their corresponding storage component's hard disk or other fixed
storage device. For example, the media management component 205 may
retrieve data from storage manager index cache 230 regarding a
storage policy and storage operation to be performed or scheduled
for a particular client 285. The media management component 205,
either directly or via an interface module, may communicate with
the data agent 295 at data store computer 285 regarding the details
of an upcoming storage operation.
[0020] Jobs agent 240 may also retrieve from index cache 230
information relating to a storage policy 260 associated with data
store computer 285. This information may be used in coordinating or
establishing actions performed by one or more data agents 295 and
one or more media management components 205 associated with
performing storage operations for that particular data store
computer 285. Such information may also include other information
regarding the storage operation to be performed such as retention
criteria, encryption criteria, streaming criteria, path
information, etc.
[0021] Data agent 295 may package or otherwise manipulate client
data stored in client data store 290 in accordance with storage
policy 260 and/or according to a user preference, and communicate
client data to the appropriate media management component(s) 205
for processing. The media management component(s) 205 may store the
data according to storage preferences associated with storage
policy 260 including storing the generated index data with the
stored data, as well
[0022] as storing a copy of the generated index data in the media
management component index cache 210.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, a network attached storage device 250
and corresponding file server 254 are also connected to storage
manager 201. NAS 250 and file server 254 are dedicated applications
without a general purpose operating system and generally do not by
themselves support software applications, such as a back-up.
[0024] NAS devices typically interface with other components, such
as those of storage management system 200, or a relatively limited
basis. One reason for this is because NAS devices tend to be
proprietary. Accordingly, other storage system designers have a
limited knowledge of implementation particulars needed to design
fully compatible and integrated interfaces for their products.
[0025] Moreover, there are many different types of NAS devices,
such as WAFL by NETWORK APPLIANCE of Sunnyvale, Calif., the EMC
CELERA file system by the EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass., the
NETWARE file system by NOVELL of Provo, Utah, and other vendors.
Most of these systems export their file systems to host computers
such as the common Internet file system (CIFS) or the network file
system (NFS), but provide no mechanism to run software on their
operating systems or reside on the file system stack to intercept
read/write or other data requests.
[0026] One solution to this problem is through the use of a proxy
media management component 252 connected to file server 254. Proxy
media agent 252 runs the applicable software used to move data to
NAS 250. Proxy media management component 252 may, for example,
issue commands using the Network Data Management Protocol
("NDMP").
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 3, a representation of a data
structure 310 is shown that may be used by system 200 in moving
data to NAS 250. As shown, data structure 310 includes the actual
data being moved in a payload 314 as well as a NDMP header 312
preceding payload 314 and NDMP trailer 316 following the
payload.
[0028] As discussed above, index cache 230 in storage manager 200
may keep track of certain information including the status of
storage operations. If a storage operation copying data from data
store 290 to NAS 250 is interrupted, for example, index cache 230
may be used to restart the operation and may keep track of the data
path, data transferred, data remaining, etc. If data from NAS 250
needs to be restored, data in index cache 230 may also be used to
facilitate such a restore operation.
[0029] One shortcoming of the NAS architecture described above is
the vulnerability associated with the dedicated data transfer path
which includes proxy 252. For example, if proxy media management
component 252 becomes inoperative or otherwise unavailable, there
is generally no way to send data to NAS 250. Similarly, if other
media management components in the system are handling less of a
load than proxy media management component 252, they are unable to
assist media management component 252 as it is the sole media
management component designated for NAS 250.
[0030] Moreover, should storage manager 201 become inoperative or
otherwise unavailable, or its data or associated indexes be
corrupted, incomplete, or otherwise unavailable, there is generally
no way to rebuild index 230 to with data from NAS 250.
[0031] Furthermore, with conventional systems, it is difficult to
verify the contents of NAS 250 after data is stored thereon. As
discussed above, in general, NAS systems are proprietary and a
simple request to verify the data stored on a NAS cannot be
performed nor can information regarding the data, such as helpful
metadata, be made available.
[0032] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a more robust
storage operation system that can more effectively interoperate
with NAS devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0033] A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying
and routing data in storage operation systems using network
attached storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the
system may include a management module and a media management
component connected to the management server, which interoperate
with network attached storage devices to provide the communicating,
browsing, verifying and routing functions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The invention is illustrated in the figures of the
accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not
limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or
corresponding parts throughout, and in which:
[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a storage operation in accordance with
the prior art;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a prior art storage
system;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a prior art data arrangement;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating a storage operation
system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps
associated with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a representation of a data structure constructed
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps
associated with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0042] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps
associated with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0043] FIG. 9 is a representation of a data structure constructed
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps
associated with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0045] FIG. 11 is an illustration of a graphical user interface
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0046] FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps
associated with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0047] Referring to FIG. 4, a system 400 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention is shown. System 400 is similar
in certain respects to the system described in FIG. 2, and
generally includes components and functional blocks which have been
numbered similarly to denote some similar functionality and general
correspondence. For example, system 400 includes a storage manager
401 (storage manager 201 in FIG. 2), one or more computing devices
485 (computer 285 in FIG. 2, which include clients), data store(s)
490 (data store(s) 290 in FIG. 2), data agent 495, (data agent(s)
295 in FIG. 2) jobs agent(s) 440 (jobs agent 240 in FIG. 2) media
management components 405 (components 205 in FIG. 2), storage
device 415 (storage devices 215 in FIG. 2), media management
component index caches 410 and a storage manager index cache 430
(caches 210 and 230, respectively in FIG. 2) The system and
elements thereof are further described in application Ser. No.
09/610,738, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,880 which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
[0048] One way in which system 400 has been improved as compared to
the systems shown in FIGS. 1-3, is by the addition of NAS module
406, which may include verification component 407, routing
component 408, browsing component 409, and metadata component 411.
In some embodiments, NAS module 406 may be installed or distributed
across some or all components 405 to facilitate data routing, data
verification and browsing, and communication with NAS device 450,
among other things.
[0049] Data agent 495 is generally a software module that is
responsible for archiving, migrating, and otherwise coordinating
the transfer and recovery of data from computer 485 or data store
490 to another memory location such as storage device 415 or NAS
device 450. Each computer 485 may have one or more associated data
agent(s) 495 and system 400 can support many computers 485. System
400 may provide a plurality of data agents 495 each of which may
backup, migrate, and recover data associated with a different
application. For example, different individual data agents 495 may
be designed to handle MICROSOFT EXCHANGE data, LOTUS NOTES data,
MICROSOFT WINDOWS file system data, MICROSOFT ACTIVE DIRECTORY
OBJECTS data, and other types of data known in the art.
[0050] In the case were data store computer 485 has two or more
types of data, one data agent 495 may be used for each data type to
archive, migrate, and restore computer 485 data (however, in other
embodiments, one data agent may handle multiple types of data). For
example, to backup, migrate, and restore some or all of the data on
a MICROSOFT EXCHANGE 2000 server, computer 485 may use a MICROSOFT
EXCHANGE 2000 Mailbox data agent 495 to backup the EXCHANGE 2000
mailboxes, a MICROSOFT EXCHANGE 2000 Database data agent 495 to
backup the EXCHANGE 2000 databases, a MICROSOFT EXCHANGE 2000
Public Folder data agent 495 to backup the Exchange 2000 Public
Folders, and a MICROSOFT WINDOWS File System data agent 495 to
backup the file system. In some embodiments, data agents 495 would
may be treated as four separate data agents 495 by system 400 even
though they may reside on the same data store computer 485.
[0051] Each media management component 405 may maintain an index
cache 410 which may store index data system 400 generates during
storage operations. This may include, for example, storage
operations for MICROSOFT EXCHANGE that generate index data. Index
data may include, for example, metadata or other information
regarding the location of the stored data on a particular media,
information regarding the content of the data stored such as file
names, sizes, creation dates, formats, application types, and other
file-related criteria, information regarding one or more clients
associated with the data stored, information regarding one or more
storage policies (discussed below), storage criteria, or storage
preferences associated with the data stored, compression
information, retention-related information, encryption-related
information, stream-related information, and other types of
information.
[0052] Data in index cache 410 thus provides the system with an
efficient mechanism for performing storage operations including
information useful in locating files for recovery operations and
for managing and tracking stored data. The system generally
maintains two or more copies of the index data regarding particular
stored data. A first copy may be stored with the data copied to a
storage device 415, the other in the index itself. Thus, a tape may
contain the stored data as well as index information related to the
stored data.
[0053] In the event of a system restore or other data restore or
refresh operation, the index data included with the stored data may
located on storage device 415 and be used to rebuild a media
management component index 405 or other index useful in performing
storage operations which may include repopulating its index cache
410.
[0054] Storage manager 401 may maintain an index cache 430. Storage
manager index cache 430 may be used to indicate, track, and
associate logical relationships and associations between components
of system 400, user preferences, management tasks, and other useful
data. For example, storage manager 401 may use its index cache 430
to track logical associations between media management components
405 and storage devices 415. Storage manager 401 may also use its
index cache 430 to track the status of storage operations to be
performed, storage patterns associated with the system components
such as media use, storage growth, network bandwidth, service level
agreement ("SLA") compliance levels, data protection levels,
storage policy information, storage criteria associated with user
preferences, retention criteria, storage operation preferences, and
other storage-related information.
[0055] Index caches may 430 and 410 may reside on their
corresponding storage component's hard disk or other fixed or
dynamic storage device or on other associated memory. For example,
media management component 405 may retrieve information from
storage manager index cache 410 regarding a storage policy and
storage operation to be performed or scheduled for a particular
computer 485. Media management component 405, either directly or
via an interface module, may communicates with the data agent 295
at the data store computer 485 regarding the storage operation.
[0056] Jobs agent 440 may also retrieve from index cache 430 a
storage policy 460 associated with the data store computer 485 and
use information from one or more storage policies 460 to
communicate to data agent 495 one or more media management
components 405 associated with performing storage operations for
that particular data store computer 485 as well as other
information regarding the storage operation to be performed such as
retention criteria, encryption criteria, streaming criteria,
etc.
[0057] A storage policy is generally a data structure or other
information, which may include a set of preferences and other
storage criteria for performing storage operations. The preferences
and storage criteria may include, but are not limited to: a storage
location, relationships between system components, network pathway
to utilize, retention policies, data characteristics, compression
or encryption requirements, preferred system components to utilize
in a storage operation, and other criteria relating to a storage
operation. A storage policy may be stored to a storage manager
index, to archive media as metadata for use in restore operations
or other storage operations, or to other locations or components of
the system.
[0058] Data agent 495 may package or otherwise manipulate client
data stored in data store 490 in accordance with storage policy 460
and/or according to a user preference, and may communicate this
data to the appropriate media management component(s) 405 for
processing. Media management component(s) 405 may store the data
according to storage preferences associated with the storage policy
including storing the generated index data with the stored data, as
well as storing a copy of the generated index data in the media
management component index cache 410.
[0059] Media management component 405 may further include a NAS
module 406 including a metadata component 411. NAS module 406 may
be implemented as a software module that may be installed on one or
more media management components 405. NAS module 406 may
interoperate with components 405, data agents 495, and/or storage
manager(s) 401 to coordinate and verify the transfer of data from
computer(s) 485 to NAS device 450.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, media management component 405 may
further include a NAS component 235 associated with NAS module 406.
NAS modules 406 may be associated or resident with each component
405 or may be distributed across various component 405 in system
400 (e.g., every other component 405 may have a NAS module 406, one
in three component 405 may have a NAS module 406, or any other
desired distribution). Moreover, in some embodiments, one or more
components 405 may share a NAS module 406 which may be moved as
necessary (e.g., float) to accommodate system storage operations.
This provides system 400 with a robust set of routing options to
reach NAS devices 450 through multiple components 405.
[0061] In some embodiments, each media management component 405 is
may be capable of handling storage operations to either a standard
storage device 415, or to work with a file server 454 to handle
copy operations with a NAS storage device 450. NAS components 435
may, for example, operate using the NDMP protocol. Resource
allocation for moving data from data store 490 to NAS 450 may now
be based on other relevant characteristics instead of being limited
to a particular defined proxy media agent. For example, a data
paths 402 and 404 from data from data store 490 to NAS 450 may be
defined by properties of NAS 450--for example if NAS 450 includes
only particular types of data such as EXCHANGE or OUTLOOK or if NAS
450 is further defined as being the OUTLOOK data for a particular
individual--such characteristics may be taken into account when
defining which media management component 405 to use for NAS device
450.
[0062] Data path 402 and 404 may also be based on storage policy
460 defined for data store 490. For example, a storage policy 460
may be defined for each particular type of data or
application--such as EXHANGE or OUTLOOK. The storage policy could
define, for example, where data is to be stored, the duration of
the storage, and how many copies should be made. Each storage
policy may define one or multiple data paths for moving data from
data store 490 to NAS 450. Each data path may include a single
media management component or multiple management components and a
set of storage devices 415 and/or NAS devices 450.
[0063] Storage policies 460 may define a preferred data path 402
and 404 for handling data moving from data store 490 to NAS 450, or
define a load balancing algorithm so that data paths may be
utilized that have more availability than other data paths. The
actual data path selected may, for example, be first based on the
properties of NAS device 450, such as data types or application,
and then chosen based on storage policy 460 for a preferred data
path and/or load balancing. For example, additional NAS devices 450
(not shown) may be operating a minimum capacity with others
operating at a higher or near maximum capacity (also not shown). In
this case, it may be desirable to distribute data load to
underutilized resources. This may be done based on preferences in
storage policy or certain load distribution algorithms the govern
system operation. For example, in one embodiment, it may be
desirable to distribute load across multiple NAS modules 406, NAS
devices 450 and associated transmission links such that a
substantially even distribution is obtained. In other
circumstances, for example, when a certain NAS module 406 is
unavailable, it may be desired to continue to send data to a
certain NAS device 450, using, however, a different NAS module 406.
This may be accomplished with embodiments of the present invention
by routing data storage operations to a different NAS module 406
which may communicate and supervise storage operations to the
original NAS device 450, even though the now unavailable module 406
was previously handling such operations.
[0064] In this way, if a certain media management component 405
becomes inoperative, storage manager 400 may select another media
management component 405 in defining a data path to NAS 450.
Moreover, storage policy 460 may be defined to perform load
balancing. When load balancing is chosen, one option is for storage
manager 400 to assign the least loaded media management component
to handle a particular storage operation. For example, if a storage
policy has three (3) data paths and ten (10) storage operations to
perform, the ten jobs may be spread across available media
management components. This may mean that multiple operations for a
single NAS 450 may be balanced across multiple media management
components 405. File server 454 may be used to keep track of
applicable copy information so as to improve routing
inter-connectivity.
[0065] Storage manager 401 may be also used to monitor the
capacities of respective media management components 405 and
dynamically alter data path 402 and 404. In this way, a copy
operation may begin using a first media management component and a
first data path and then, because of, for example, a change in the
load in system 400, a second data path including a different media
management component may be selected to complete the copy
operation. For example, if the first media management component
that started the copy operation becomes overburdened or
inoperative, storage manager 400 may decide to move the copy
operation to a different media management component. Moreover,
storage manager 401 may choose a data path so as to most
efficiently utilize storage media. For example, if using a first
data path may result in using a last portion of a first storage
medium and a first portion of a second storage medium, storage
manager 401 may choose a different data path which results in only
a single storage medium being used.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 5, some steps associated with a method
for facilitating storage operations in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention is shown. The method shown in the
figure could operate using, for example, system 400 shown in FIG.
4. As shown, at step 502, a request may be received to perform a
storage operation including sending data to a network attached
storage device. At step 504, a data path may be determined for the
source data to the network attached storage device. This may
include a determination based on a storage policy or other routing
preference. It may also further involve an analysis of the network
operating conditions including network congestion of utilization
rate of the resources defined in the transmission path, and certain
specified load balancing requirements or preferences.
[0067] If one or more resources as initially specified are beyond a
threshold, the path and/or the destination NAS device may be
altered to ensure certain system management operating conditions
are achieved/maintained. For example, if a certain media management
component, transmission path or destination device is operating
beyond a specified level, some or all of those resources may be
altered, such that other resources are used instead to meet or
maintain system operating specifications. This may include
specifying another media management component to handle storage
operations to a NAS device that was previously associated with
another different media management component. Moreover, it will be
understood that such resource reallocation may occur dynamically
(e.g., upon consideration of network operating conditions), or as
specified by a user, or in recognition of a system change, such as
removal of certain hardware such as a NAS device, or computing
devices, etc. This may be accomplished by a storage manager or
other system management module.
[0068] At step 506, once the route and destination resource has
been established, the storage operation is performed. This may
involve moving one or more chunks of data associated with an
archive file, etc. This may also involve confirming that the data
has successfully been stored, and writing file location, size, and
other index information to indexes in media management components
or storage managers.
[0069] Moreover, in some embodiments, the system may perform
additional monitoring of the resources operation while performing
the storage operation to determine the effect of the operation on
system resources (step 508). Such load measurement may determine,
for example, whether particular devices in the system are more
loaded with data than other devices and also determines whether
particular devices have no load--such as, for example, if such
devices have become inoperative. This additional information may be
used at step 510, where the system may determine if there is a load
imbalance or whether that a device on the chosen data path is no
longer operative. This may be confirmed by performing certain tests
on the data path to determine, if, it is in fact inoperative. In
some embodiments, such further monitoring may be performed at step
504. Moreover, based on this information, the system may further
redefine or reallocate system resources to distribute data load
substantially evenly across network resources, or conserve media
usage, or promote other load balancing goals (e.g., distribute data
operations across network resources in view of a the need to remain
within a copy or backup window, or other operating condition such
as a data path preference etc.). Moreover, it will be understood
that system monitoring and analysis with respect to load balancing
may be performed iteratively at steps 504 and 510 with resource
reallocation occurring on a continuous basis based on the results
of the monitoring and analysis.
[0070] Referring back now to FIG. 4, media management component 405
may further include a metadata component 411. As data is copied
from data store 490 is to NAS 450, the path may include media
management component 405 and metadata component 411. Metadata
component 411 may generate certain storage metadata, which may
include, for example a storage header and trailer, including
management information associated with system 400, which may be
appended to any data copied (such as a data "chunk"). This metadata
may include the size of the data, path information, offsets, client
ID information, information relating to the source data such as,
which archive file a chunk may be associated with, what files are
in the chunk, chunk number, and any other data useful for data
management, etc. This metadata may be separated into a header and
trailer and appended to the data as described below.
[0071] For example, in FIG. 6, data chunk 690 and metadata header
678 and metadata trailer 682 may be combined to produce the data
structure shown. Metadata may be separated between header 678 and
trailer 682 as desired for system management purposes. For example,
header 678 may include the size of the data, and offsets, while
trailer 682 may include path information, client ID information,
job ID, information relating to the source data such as, which
archive file a chunk may be associated with, what files are in the
chunk, chunk number, etc. However, any useful arrangement may be
used, if desired.
[0072] In operation, media management component 405 and metadata
component 411 may generate the data arrangement shown in FIG. 6 and
using write commands, for example, the NDMP protocol, may send data
along with metadata as shown in FIG. 6 to file server 454 for
subsequent storage in NAS 450. In some embodiments, file server 454
may remove any NDMP header or trailer, and add metadata created by
component 411 and store the combination on NAS 450. Data may be
retrieved by a media management component when a computing device
485 or storage manager 401 issues a data or system restore request.
In this case, the media management component may query file server
454 on behalf of the requesting device for the requested
information (which may be retrieved via paths 413 and 414 and
subsequently routed to the appropriate destination).
[0073] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a method for
facilitating storage operations including NAS in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. The process could be used with, for
example, system 400 shown in FIG. 4. As step 702, a request is
received by a storage manager or media management component to move
data to a network attached storage device. At step 704, a routine,
which may be recursive, is initiated for each group of data, such
as a chuck, to be moved. This may involve evaluating path and
destination information or preferences, and obtaining metadata
relating to the information as further described herein.
[0074] At step 706, a chunk of data from the data source is moved
or copied to or processed by an applicable media management
component. This may involve processing on a source computing device
prior to movement a NAS device. At step 708, the media management
component may issues an applicable write command and generates
metadata for the received data (in some embodiments, a data
structure including data and metadata, is created). At step 710, a
file server receives the write command, the data and the metadata.
At step 712, the file server combines the data and metadata, writes
the resulting data structure to the NAS.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 8 there is shown a process for retrieving
data from a NAS in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
The process may be used with, for example, system 400 shown in FIG.
4. At step 820, a request is received to restore data stored on a
NAS. At step 822, a routine, which may be recursive, is initiated
for each set or chunk of data which may request a specific chunk,
monitor data received and response to the request, and terminate
the retrieval operation once the desired data is retrieved.
[0076] At step 824, a file server retrieves data and associated
metadata from a NAS in response to the request. In some
embodiments, the file server may separate, chunk data and metadata
and provide each to the media management device. At step 826, the
data and metadata may be forwarded to a media management component
or a computing device. At step 828, the media management component
may use the data and metadata to identify and route the requested
information to the source requesting such information and "unpack"
or otherwise obtain the data (e.g., a computing device requesting a
data restore operation). In certain circumstances, the metadata
associated with the stored data may be desired, for example, in the
event of a system restore, to reconstruct one or more media
management or storage manager indexes.
[0077] Referring again back to FIG. 4, NAS module 406 may further
include a NAS verification component 407 for verifying that the
information requested information is properly stored (or retrieved)
from NAS device 450. For example, in operation, NAS verification
module 411 may issue a request to file server 454 to restore
certain data stored in NAS device 450 to a data destination 412.
The request may include, for example, the path stored on NAS device
450, whether backup information stored on NAS 450 was a full or
incremental backup, a list of the paths to restore, a destination
path, an option not to write the data stored in NAS 450, etc. This
request may be issued in order to obtain metadata associated with
stored data which may be compared with certain index information to
confirm the requested data is available, was properly stored and
may be retrieved.
[0078] File server 454 may send a retrieve request to NAS 450, that
reads data stored on NAS 450, and forwards the responsive data to
media management component 405. NAS verification module 407 may
read the metadata associated with the retrieved data and forward
the data to destination 412. In some embodiments, data destination
412 may be a null or other empty port such as air and does not
include a storage medium. This may be performed in cases where only
metadata is desired for verification purposes.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 9, a data structure 906 constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown.
As shown, data structure 906 may include a dump header 920, a data
payload 922 and a trailer 922. Dump header 920 may include, for
example, a description and size of data payload 922, and a list of
the files in payload 922. File server 454 may further modify data
structure 906 and add a label field 926, a file marker field 928, a
chunk header 930, a file marker 932, a file marker 936, a chunk
trailer 938, a file marker 940, and a trailer 942 to produce data
structure 908. Label 926 may label data structure 908. File markers
928, 932, 936 and 940 may separate different portions of data
structure 908. Chunk header 930 may include header information for
each chunk of data 922. Similarly, chunk trailer includes trailer
information for each chunk of data 922.
[0080] NAS verification component 407 receives data from NAS 450 in
response to a request and may compare certain information in data
structure 908 with information from an index in media management
component 405 or storage manager 401. For example, verification
component 407 may compare information in dump header 920 to a
corresponding entry stored in index cache 430 or in index cache
410. Such information was initially generated when data 906 was
first stored on NAS 450. Further, when NAS verification module 407
restores data 908, the restoration process itself generates
metadata which may also be compared with meta data stored in index
cache 430 or index cache 410 (e.g., unique or somewhat unique
rebuild information, etc.).
[0081] The results of such comparisons may be used to verify the
contents of payload 922 and may be performed using techniques known
in the art--such as checksums, hashing, etc. if the comparisons are
favorable, media management component 405 then forwards data 908 to
data destination 412. In some embodiments, data destination 412 may
be a "dummy" device, air or other null port and excludes a storage
medium, if the metadata is desired. This increases the speed of the
process because less time is uses as compared to media management
component 405 actually writing data structure 408 to a storage
medium. Further, no extra storage space needs to be utilized.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 10, a flow chart illustrating some of the
steps involved in a method for validating data stored on a network
attached storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention is shown. The method in FIG. 10 may be implemented using,
for example, system 400 discussed above. At step 1002, a request is
made to restore data stored on a NAS. This may involve a computing
device or storage manager contacting a media management component
with such as request. Next, at step 1004, a media management
component may communicate with a NAS device through a file server
and locate the data requested. After the requested data has been
located, data from the NAS may be retrieved and sent from the file
server and restored. At step 1006, certain metadata such as a dump
header or other portions from the data stored in the NAS may be
extracted and compared with metadata stored in an index cache. If
the comparison is favorable, the metadata or other data may be used
for system restore or management purposes. For example, this
information may be used to verify that the requested information is
stored on the NAS device and may be retrieved, if necessary (e.g.,
for repopulating a computing device with application data or
repopulating a management database with system management
information, etc.).
[0083] If the comparison is unfavorable, the query may be processed
several times, until a favorable result is obtained, or until a
certain number of unfavorable results are obtained, in which the
query may terminate as a time out, and system indexes or processes
updated to reflect the requested information could not be found,
and therefore not retrieved. Assuming that a favorable result is
obtained, the metadata may be retrieved and the data from the NAS
is sent to a null port which does not include a storage medium
(step 1008). Moreover, data that has been obtained may be merged
into any existing media management or storage manager database to
repopulate an index or other databases in the event a restore is
desired.
[0084] Thus, by requesting to restore data from a NAS and reading
header and/or other metadata from the NAS data, a system and method
for verifying data stored on a NAS is realized.
[0085] As shown in FIG. 4, NAS module 406 may further include a NAS
browsing component 409 for allowing a user to browse information or
data stored on NAS device 450. For example, in operation, NAS
browsing component 409 may be invoked, for example, on a computing
device 485 and issue a request to media management component 405
for information regarding certain data stored in NAS device 450.
The request may include, for example, a request for a file system
overview of the files stored on NAS device 450, including certain
information or properties about those files.
[0086] Once the information is obtained, a graphical user interface
on a computing device may display the information in a familiar
graphical file format with an icon representing each file. This is
generally shown in FIG. 11. As shown, screen 1101 may be similar to
a WINDOWS file system display screen, which may include file icons
1102 representing NAS files under management. In operation, a user
may select one of icons 1102 and invoke a pulldown or other menu
1103 which lists a set of options or operations that may be
performed on the various files shown. For example, this may include
a properties selection which may display various properties of the
files under management including the size of the data, path
information, offsets, client ID information, application
information, date copied, storage policies associated with the
data, information relating to the source data such as, which
archive file a chunk may be associated with, what files are in the
chunk, chunk number, and any other data useful for data management,
etc.
[0087] The user may obtain this information by choosing a
particular file 1102 and selecting the properties option 1104 from
pull down menu 1103. It will be understood each property may be
presented in a layered or tiered format that additional details may
be obtained by clicking or selecting a particular property and that
other options may also be available(not shown).
[0088] Referring to FIG. 12, a flow chart illustrating some of the
steps involved in a method for browsing data stored on a network
attached storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention is shown. The method in FIG. 12 may be implemented using,
for example, system 400 discussed above. At step 1202, a request
may be made to view files stored on one or more NAS devices. This
may involve a user invoking a browser on a computing device. At
this point the user may be prompted to select a certain network of
interest. Once selected, the system may scan the selected
network(s) for associated NAS devices. A list of available devices
may be displayed, from which the user may choose one or more
devices of interest. In some embodiments, a user may request a list
of files or application programs, and the system may generate a
list of available NAS devices that include the specified
information.
[0089] Once a user selects one or more NAS devices from the list, a
query may sent to the system of those devices for a list of files
under management. The system may obtain these lists, for example,
from a system index or through direct queries to the NAS devices.
Next, at step 1204, the user may select certain files to receive
more information about them. This may involve the restoration
process described above where files are restored to obtain metadata
for browsing purposes (step 1206).
[0090] Next, at step 1208, the information may be displayed to the
user for further inspection. At this point, the user may further
direct operations with respect to the displayed files. For example,
the user may direct a full or partial data restore from the NAS
device and may direct certain clients be repopulated with the
restored data. Similarly, the user may update or refresh certain
system management components such as a storage manager database or
index or media management component index to be updated. Other
operations are also contemplated, such as directing the copying of
data or management information to a disk, other portable media or
to another network location.
[0091] Systems and modules described herein may comprise software,
firmware, hardware, or any combination(s) of software, firmware, or
hardware suitable for the purposes described herein. Software and
other modules may reside on servers, workstations, personal
computers, computerized tablets, PDAs, and other devices suitable
for the purposes described herein. Software and other modules may
be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or
other application in an ASP context, or via other means suitable
for the purposes described herein. Data structures described herein
may comprise computer files, variables, programming arrays,
programming structures, or any electronic information storage
schemes or methods, or any combinations thereof, suitable for the
purposes described herein. User interface elements described herein
may comprise elements from graphical user interfaces, command line
interfaces, and other interfaces suitable for the purposes
described herein. Screenshots presented and described herein can be
displayed differently as known in the art to input, access, change,
manipulate, modify, alter, and work with information.
[0092] Moreover, it will be appreciated that the systems and
methods provided herein are intended to exemplary and not limiting
and that additional elements or steps may be added or performed in
different order, if desired.
[0093] While the invention has been described and illustrated in
connection with preferred embodiments, many variations and
modifications as will be evident to those skilled in this art may
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, and the invention is thus not to be limited to the
precise details of methodology or construction set forth above as
such variations and modification are intended to be included within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *