Storage management operations based on executable files served on demand to storage management components
First Claim
1. A method for changing versions of components of a storage management system, the method comprising:
- receiving by a second version of a media agent that executes on a computing device, from a storage manager;
(A) metadata about a first version of the media agent, extracted by the storage manager from executable files of the first version of the media agent which are stored in a first network-shared file system, which is in communication with the storage manager but is unattached to the computing device, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-shared storage, and (C) instructions that the second version of the media agent is to stop executing after it completes storage management operations that are underway;
storing, by the second version of the media agent, the received metadata to data storage on the computing device;
refreshing the designated connection to network-shared storage, comprising releasing an attached second network-shared file system and attaching to the first network-shared file system;
after completing storage management operations that are underway, stopping execution of the second version of the media agent on the computing device;
based at least in part on the metadata stored at the computing device, reading, into a main memory configured in the computing device, the executable files of the first version of the media agent from the attached first network-shared file system;
executing, by the computing device, the executable files of the first version of the media agent, thereby changing the media agent on the computing device from the second version to the first version as served from the first network-shared file system; and
taking part by the first version of the media agent executing on the computing device in at least one further storage management operation managed by the storage manager.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for speedily upgrading (e.g., via service packs) components of a storage management system, such as media agents and data agents, which may number in the thousands. The disclosed methods and systems provide a lightweight and flexible approach. Executable files such as service packs are deployed to a network-shared file system and are served on demand to each targeted host computing device to launch a data agent and/or media agent component. New service packs (e.g., upgrades) are installed on another shared drive and the connection thereto is refreshed by each targeted storage management component to begin executing the new version on demand. The resultant overall upgrade process across the storage management system may be substantially shortened, and the network burden greatly reduced.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for changing versions of components of a storage management system, the method comprising:
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receiving by a second version of a media agent that executes on a computing device, from a storage manager;
(A) metadata about a first version of the media agent, extracted by the storage manager from executable files of the first version of the media agent which are stored in a first network-shared file system, which is in communication with the storage manager but is unattached to the computing device, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-shared storage, and (C) instructions that the second version of the media agent is to stop executing after it completes storage management operations that are underway;storing, by the second version of the media agent, the received metadata to data storage on the computing device; refreshing the designated connection to network-shared storage, comprising releasing an attached second network-shared file system and attaching to the first network-shared file system; after completing storage management operations that are underway, stopping execution of the second version of the media agent on the computing device; based at least in part on the metadata stored at the computing device, reading, into a main memory configured in the computing device, the executable files of the first version of the media agent from the attached first network-shared file system; executing, by the computing device, the executable files of the first version of the media agent, thereby changing the media agent on the computing device from the second version to the first version as served from the first network-shared file system; and taking part by the first version of the media agent executing on the computing device in at least one further storage management operation managed by the storage manager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A storage management system comprising:
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a computing device that hosts a second version of a storage management agent for participating in storage management operations in the storage management system, wherein the storage management agent is one of;
a data agent and a media agent, wherein the computing device comprises one or more processors and a data storage device;a first network-shared file system configured as detached from the computing device; a second network-shared file system configured as attached to the computing device; a storage manager for managing the storage management operations in the storage management system, wherein the storage manager is in communication with the first network-shared file system and with the second network-shared file system; and wherein the computing device is configured to; receive from the storage manager;
(A) metadata about a first version of the storage management agent, extracted by the storage manager from executable files of the first version of the storage management agent which are stored in the first network-shared file system, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-shared storage, and (C) instructions that the second version of the storage management agent is to stop executing after it completes storage management operations that are underway,store the received metadata to the data storage device in the computing device, refresh the designated connection to network-shared storage, comprising a release of the attached second network-shared file system and an attach operation to the first network-shared file system, stop execution of the second version of the storage management agent on the computing device after completing storage management operations that are underway, based at least in part on the metadata stored at the computing device, read into a main memory configured in the computing device the executable files of the first version of the storage management agent from the attached first network-shared file system, execute the executable files of the first version of the storage management agent, thereby changing the storage management agent on the computing device from the second version to the first version as served from the first network-shared file system, and resume execution of further storage management operations by the first version of the storage management agent. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for upgrading storage management agents, including data agents and/or media agents, in a storage management system, the method comprising:
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upgrading a second version of a storage management agent that executes on a computing device to a first version of the storage management agent for participating in storage management operations managed by a storage manager, wherein the storage management agent is one of a data agent and a media agent, and wherein the upgrading comprises; receiving from the storage manager;
(A) metadata about the first version of the storage management agent, extracted by the storage manager from executable files of the first version of the storage management agent which are stored by the storage manager to a first network-shared file system, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-shared storage, and (C) instructions that the second version of the storage management agent is to stop executing after it completes storage management operations that are underway,storing the received metadata to the data storage device in the computing device, attaching to the first network-shared file system after releasing an attached second network-shared file system, stopping execution of the second version of the storage management agent on the computing device after completing the storage management operations that are underway, based on the metadata received from the storage manager, reading into a main memory of the computing device the executable files of the first version of the storage management agent from the attached first network-shared file system, and executing the executable files of the first version of the storage management agent, thereby completing the upgrading of the storage management agent on the computing device from the second version to the first version as served from the first network-shared file system; and after the upgrading, participating in further storage management operations by the first version of the storage management agent executing on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification