Consolidated processing of storage-array commands by a snapshot-control media agent
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- executing a first media agent on a first computing device that comprises one or more processors and associated computer memory, wherein one or more applications and a respective associated data agent also execute thereon, andwherein the one or more applications directly read and write primary data on a storage array;
executing a second media agent on a second computing device that comprises one or more processors and associated computer memory, wherein the second media agent is in communication with the first media agent,wherein the second media agent is configured to directly communicate operational commands to the storage array using a plurality of command devices that are configured on the second computing device, andwherein the first computing device is configured without command devices for directly communicating operational commands to the storage array;
providing, by the second media agent, indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array by;
(a) receiving a first operational command that is issued by the first media agent and is directed at the storage array,(b) transmitting the first operational command to the storage array using a first command device from the plurality of command devices configured on the second computing device,(c) receiving a response to the first operational command from the storage array, and(d) transmitting the response to the first media agent on the first computing device; and
wherein the providing by the second media agent of indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array offloads the first computing device that executes the first media agent from providing direct communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A “snapshot-control media agent” (“snap-MA”) is configured on a secondary storage computing device that operates apart from client computing devices. A “forwarder” media agent operates on each client computing device that uses a storage array, yet lacks command channels to the storage array. The forwarder media agent forwards commands directed at the storage array to the snap-MA, which receives and processes commands directed at the storage array that were forwarded by the forwarder media agents. Responses from the storage array are transmitted to the respective forwarder media agent. The snap-MA pools storage-array-command devices to avoid capacity limitations in regard to communications channels at the storage array. The snap-MA operating in conjunction with the forwarder media agents enable the illustrative system to consolidate the communication of storage-array commands away from client computing devices and/or proxy media agent hosts and into the secondary storage computing device that hosts the snap-MA.
629 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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executing a first media agent on a first computing device that comprises one or more processors and associated computer memory, wherein one or more applications and a respective associated data agent also execute thereon, and wherein the one or more applications directly read and write primary data on a storage array; executing a second media agent on a second computing device that comprises one or more processors and associated computer memory, wherein the second media agent is in communication with the first media agent, wherein the second media agent is configured to directly communicate operational commands to the storage array using a plurality of command devices that are configured on the second computing device, and wherein the first computing device is configured without command devices for directly communicating operational commands to the storage array; providing, by the second media agent, indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array by; (a) receiving a first operational command that is issued by the first media agent and is directed at the storage array, (b) transmitting the first operational command to the storage array using a first command device from the plurality of command devices configured on the second computing device, (c) receiving a response to the first operational command from the storage array, and (d) transmitting the response to the first media agent on the first computing device; and wherein the providing by the second media agent of indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array offloads the first computing device that executes the first media agent from providing direct communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable medium, excluding transitory propagating signals, storing instructions that, when executed by a secondary storage computing device that comprises one or more processors and associated computer memory, cause the secondary storage computing device to perform operations comprising:
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executing a second media agent, which is in communication with a first media agent that executes on a first computing device comprising one or more processors and associated computer memory, wherein one or more applications and a respective associated data agent also execute on the first computing device, and wherein the one or more applications directly read and write primary data on a storage array; and providing, by the second media agent, indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array by; (a) receiving a first operational command that is issued by the first media agent and is directed at the storage array, (b) transmitting the first operational command to the storage array using one of a plurality of command devices configured on the secondary computing device for directly communicating operational commands to the storage array, and (c) transmitting to the first media agent on the first computing device a response to the first operational command that is received from the storage array; and wherein the providing by the second media agent of indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array offloads the first computing device, which is configured with no command devices and which executes the first media agent, from providing direct communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium, excluding transitory propagating signals, storing instructions that, when executed by a secondary storage computing device that comprises one or more processors and associated computer memory, cause the secondary storage computing device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving by a second media agent that executes on the secondary storage computing device an operational command issued by a first media agent and directed to a storage array, wherein the first media agent executes on a client computing device distinct from the secondary storage computing device, wherein at least one application executing on the client computing device reads and writes directly from and to the storage array, respectively, and wherein the first media agent lacks resources for direct communications with the storage array; transmitting the operational command to the storage array, by the second media agent via a first command channel that uses one of a plurality of command devices configured in the secondary storage computing device and controlled by the second media agent for directly communicating operational commands to and from the storage array; receiving, by the second media agent, an operational status from the storage array based on an operation executed by the storage array in response to the operational command transmitted by the second media agent; transmitting, by the second media agent to the first media agent, the operational status; and wherein through the receiving and transmitting operations the second media agent provides indirect communications of operational commands between the first media agent and the storage array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification