Storage management operations based on executable files served on demand to storage management components
First Claim
1. A method for changing versions of data agent components in a storage management system, the method comprising:
- receiving by a second version of a data agent that executes on a computing device, from a storage manager;
(A) metadata about a first version of the data agent, extracted by the storage manager from executable files of the first version of the data agent which are stored on a first network-attached storage, which is in communication with the storage manager but is unattached to the computing device,(B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-attached storage, and(C) instructions that the second version of the data agent is to stop executing after it completes storage management operations that are underway, andwherein the computing device comprises one or more processors and computer memory;
storing, by the second version of the data agent, the received metadata to the computing device;
refreshing the designated connection to network-attached storage, comprising releasing an attached second network-attached storage and attaching to the first network-attached storage;
after completing the storage management operations that are underway, stopping execution of the second version of the data 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 data agent from the attached first network-attached storage;
executing, by the computing device, the executable files of the first version of the data agent, thereby changing the data agent on the computing device from the second version to the first version as served from the first network-attached storage; and
taking part by the first version of the data 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.
105 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for changing versions of data agent components in a storage management system, the method comprising:
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receiving by a second version of a data agent that executes on a computing device, from a storage manager; (A) metadata about a first version of the data agent, extracted by the storage manager from executable files of the first version of the data agent which are stored on a first network-attached storage, which is in communication with the storage manager but is unattached to the computing device, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-attached storage, and (C) instructions that the second version of the data agent is to stop executing after it completes storage management operations that are underway, and wherein the computing device comprises one or more processors and computer memory; storing, by the second version of the data agent, the received metadata to the computing device; refreshing the designated connection to network-attached storage, comprising releasing an attached second network-attached storage and attaching to the first network-attached storage; after completing the storage management operations that are underway, stopping execution of the second version of the data 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 data agent from the attached first network-attached storage; executing, by the computing device, the executable files of the first version of the data agent, thereby changing the data agent on the computing device from the second version to the first version as served from the first network-attached storage; and taking part by the first version of the data 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, 7)
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8. A storage management system comprising:
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a computing device that hosts a second version of a storage management agent for performing storage management operations in the storage management system, wherein the storage management agent is one of;
a data agent and a media agent, andwherein the computing device comprises one or more processors; a first network-shared file system residing on a first network-attached storage configured as detached from the computing device; a second network-shared file system residing on a second network-attached storage 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-attached storage and with the second network-attached storage; and wherein the computing device is configured to; receive from the storage manager;
(A) metadata about a first version of the storage management agent, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-attached 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,refresh the designated connection to network-attached storage, comprising releasing the attached second network-attached storage and attaching to the first network-attached storage, stop execution of the second version of the storage management agent on the computing device after completing the storage management operations that are underway, based at least in part on the metadata received from the storage manager, read into a main memory configured in the computing device executable files of the first version of the storage management agent from the 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, and execute further storage management operations by the first version of the storage management agent. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. 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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changing a second version of a storage management agent that executes on a computing device to a first version of the storage management agent, wherein the storage management agent is one of a data agent and a media agent, and wherein the changing comprises; receiving by the computing device from a storage manager;
(A) metadata about the first version of the storage management agent, (B) instructions to refresh a designated connection to network-attached 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,attaching the computing device to a first network-attached storage after releasing an attached second network-attached storage, 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 executable files of the first version of the storage management agent from the attached first network-attached storage, and executing 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-attached storage; and performing further storage management operations by the first version of the storage management agent executing on the computing device after the changing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification