Data recovery using a cloud-based remote data recovery center

• US 10,346,259 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Gokhale, Parag, Kripalani, Sanjay Harakhchand
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryan, Jason B
• Application Number:
  US13/787,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20140189432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,316 Days
• Field of Search: 714 41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/26 Functional testing

Abstract

A Remote Metadata Center provides Distaster Recovery (DR) testing and metadata backup services to multiple business organizations. Metadata associated with local data backups performed at business organizations is transmitted to the Remote Metadata Center. Corresponding backup data is stored in a data storage system that is either stored locally at the business organization or at a data storage facility that is at a different location than the Remote Metadata Center and the business organization. DR testing can be staged from the Remote Data Center using the metadata received and optionally with assistance from an operator at the business organization and/or the data storage facility.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable media having code stored thereon, the code when executed by a processor, causing the processor to assist in providing a cloud-based backup storage service to a computer network at a cloud-based backup storage facility, the method comprising:

configuring, at the cloud-based backup storage facility, a cloud storage manager to communicatively couple to a local storage manager,

wherein the cloud storage manager is at a geographical location that is remote from a geographical location of the local storage manager,

wherein the computer network includes the local storage manager but not the cloud storage manager;

wherein the local storage manager is configured to control a backup operation of data in the computer network and communicate storage metadata generated during the backup operation to the cloud storage manager,

wherein the storage metadata includes metadata pointers, lookup tables, or any combination thereof,

wherein the storage metadata is used during restoration of actual data backed up during the backup operation into usable data, and

wherein the storage metadata is generated during the backup operation of data in the computer network;

receiving, without receiving the actual data backed up during the backup operation, the storage metadata at the cloud storage manager;

processing, at the cloud storage manager, the storage metadata to generate usage information;

storing, via the cloud storage manager, the storage metadata at a cloud metadata storage system located at the geographical location of the cloud storage manager, without storing the actual data backed up during the backup operation at the cloud metadata storage system; and

providing graphical user interface (GUI) features at the local storage manager, the GUI features indicative of whether the local storage manager is operating in a local mode in which the local storage manager can control data storage and recover operations, and a remote mode in which the local storage manager is able to view, but not control, data storage and recovery operations.

2. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the cloud storage manager and the computer network are in different communication sub-networks.

3. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the cloud storage manager is on a different side of a firewall from the computer network, and wherein the computer network is a private network.

4. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the processing the storage metadata to generate usage information includes:

checking whether the storage metadata complies with a service level agreement with the production facility, and when the storage metadata exceed the service level agreement, then generating an alert message; and

communicating the alert message to an operations support system that is configured to generate billing information based on the alert message.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

checking whether the storage metadata complies with a service level agreement with the production facility, and when the storage metadata exceed the service level agreement, then generating an alert message.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a data recovery test request from a local operator console in the computer network at the production facility;

retrieving, in response to the data recovery test request, metadata previously stored in the cloud metadata storage system; and

staging data recovery testing using the retrieved metadata.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the staging is performed under control of the cloud storage manager.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the staging is performed under control of the local storage manager at the production facility.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

providing, at the cloud-based backup storage facility, another cloud storage manager that is communicatively coupled to another gateway server, the cloud storage manager being configured to provide metadata storage services to another production facility.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

providing rule-based isolation between metadata from the production facility and metadata from the another production facility.

11. A method for providing a cloud-based backup storage service to a computer network at a cloud-based backup storage facility, the method comprising:

configuring, at the cloud-based backup storage facility, a cloud storage manager to communicatively couple to a local storage manager,

wherein the cloud storage manager is at a geographical location that is remote from a geographical location of the local storage manager,

wherein the computer network includes the local storage manager but not the cloud storage manager;

wherein the local storage manager is configured to control a backup operation of data in the computer network and communicate storage metadata generated during the backup operation to the cloud storage manager,

wherein the storage metadata includes metadata pointers, lookup tables, or any combination thereof,

wherein the storage metadata is used during restoration of actual data backed up during the backup operation into usable data, and

wherein the storage metadata is generated during the backup operation of data in the computer network;

receiving, without receiving the actual data backed up during the backup operation, the storage metadata at the cloud storage manager;

processing, at the cloud storage manager, the storage metadata to generate usage information;

storing, via the cloud storage manager, the storage metadata at a cloud metadata storage system located at the geographical location of the cloud storage manager, without storing the actual data backed up during the backup operation at the cloud metadata storage system; and

providing graphical user interface (GUI) features at the local storage manager, the GUI features indicative of whether the local storage manager is operating in a local mode in which the local storage manager can control data storage and recover operations, and a remote mode in which the local storage manager is able to view, but not control, data storage and recovery operations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing the storage metadata to generate usage information comprises:

checking whether the storage metadata complies with a service level agreement with the production facility, and when the storage metadata exceed the service level agreement, then generating an alert message; and

communicating the alert message to an operations support system that is configured to generate billing information based on the alert message.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a data recovery test request from a local operator console in the computer network at the production facility;

retrieving, in response to the data recovery test request, metadata previously stored in the cloud metadata storage system; and

staging data recovery testing using the retrieved metadata.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing, at the cloud-based backup storage facility, another cloud storage manager that is communicatively coupled to another gateway server, the cloud storage manager being configured to provide metadata storage services to another production facility.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing rule-based isolation between metadata from the production facility and metadata from the another production facility.

16. A system for providing a cloud-based backup storage service to a computer network at a cloud-based backup storage facility, the system comprising:

at least one hardware processor;

at least one non-transitory memory, coupled to the at least one hardware processor and storing instructions, which when executed by the at least one hardware processor, perform a method, the method comprising;

configuring, at the cloud-based backup storage facility, a cloud storage manager to communicatively couple to a local storage manager,

wherein the cloud storage manager is at a geographical location that is remote from a geographical location of the local storage manager,

wherein the computer network includes the local storage manager but not the cloud storage manager;

wherein the local storage manager is configured to control a backup operation of data in the computer network and communicate storage metadata generated during the backup operation to the cloud storage manager,

wherein the storage metadata includes metadata pointers, lookup tables, or any combination thereof,

wherein the storage metadata is used during restoration of actual data backed up during the backup operation into usable data, and

wherein the storage metadata is generated during the backup operation of data in the computer network;

receiving, without receiving the actual data backed up during the backup operation, the storage metadata at the cloud storage manager;

processing, at the cloud storage manager, the storage metadata to generate usage information;

storing, via the cloud storage manager, the storage metadata at a cloud metadata storage system located at the geographical location of the cloud storage manager, without storing the actual data backed up during the backup operation at the cloud metadata storage system; and

providing graphical user interface (GUI) features at the local storage manager, the GUI features indicative of whether the local storage manager is operating in a local mode in which the local storage manager can control data storage and recover operations, and a remote mode in which the local storage manager is able to view, but not control, data storage and recovery operations.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing the storage metadata to generate usage information comprises:

checking whether the storage metadata complies with a service level agreement with the production facility, and when the storage metadata exceed the service level agreement, then generating an alert message; and

communicating the alert message to an operations support system that is configured to generate billing information based on the alert message.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a data recovery test request from a local operator console in the computer network at the production facility;

retrieving, in response to the data recovery test request, metadata previously stored in the cloud metadata storage system; and

staging data recovery testing using the retrieved metadata.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

providing, at the cloud-based backup storage facility, another cloud storage manager that is communicatively coupled to another gateway server, the cloud storage manager being configured to provide metadata storage services to another production facility.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

providing rule-based isolation between metadata from the production facility and metadata from the another production facility.