Policy Based Resource Management for Legacy Data

• US 20060224550A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Voruganti, Kaladhar, Gopisetty, Sandeep, Singh, Aameek, Shah, Gauri, Routray, Ramani, Uttamchandani, Sandeep, Pass, Norman Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,685,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6236 between heterogeneous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

A policy-based resource management system provides an infrastructure that uses high-level definitions of data-types along with desired policy rules to manage legacy data. In particular, relevant legacy data is identified as well as the characteristics of storage devices where the legacy data resides. The storage management system determines what if any of the legacy data is stored in a manner that is non-compliant with the policy rules and corrects any violations. It generates corrective action plans, and then uses existing data migration software to migrate the data. Accordingly, the legacy data may be managed in a policy-based manner without requiring typical storage management software.

Claims

1. A method for implementing policy-based management for legacy data comprising the steps of:

identifying a policy associated with one or more data objects, each stored on a respective associated storage device;

determining for each associated storage device at least one property related to the policy; and

identifying any associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving input related to particular data characteristics; and

determining the one or more data objects based on the particular data characteristic.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular data characteristics comprise a file type.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular data characteristics comprise a file modification time.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular data characteristics comprise an associated application.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the one or more data objects further includes the steps of:

generating a query based on the input; and

searching the respective associated storage devices for data objects matching the query.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of generating the query further includes the step of:

semantic processing the input to generate the query.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of searching further includes the step of:

receiving an example data object and determining similar data objects.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

presenting the one or more data objects to a user;

receiving input from the user based on the one or more data objects; and

determining whether to omit at least one of the one or more data objects based on the input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining for each associated storage device at least one property related to the policy further includes the step of:

probing each associated storage device to determine the at least one property.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one property relates to a functional capability of the associated storage device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the functional capability comprises one of a block-level functionality;

a file system-level functionality, and a application-level functionality.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying an additional storage device having the one property that satisfies the policy; and

moving those data objects, stored on associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy, to the additional storage device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a configuration change for the associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy; and

implementing the configuration change such that the at least one property is no longer violated.

15. A computer-based system for policy-based management for legacy data comprising the steps of:

an application configured to identify a policy associated with one or more data objects, each stored on a respective associated storage device;

an probe configured to determine for each associated storage device at least one property related to the policy; and

the application further including an analyzer in communication with the probe and configured to identify any associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive input related to particular data characteristics; and

a query generator configured to determine the one or more data objects based on the particular data characteristic.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the particular data characteristics comprise a file type.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the particular data characteristics comprise a file modification time.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the particular data characteristics comprise an associated application.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the query generator is further configured to search the respective associated storage devices for data objects matching the input.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the probe is further configured to identify an additional storage device having the one property that satisfies the policy, and the application is further configured to move those data objects, stored on associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy, to the additional storage device.

22. An apparatus for implementing policy-based management for legacy data, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled with the at least one processor;

one or more data objects, each stored on a respective associated storage device; and

a program code residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the program code configured to;

identify a policy associated with the one or more data objects;

determine for each associated storage device at least one property related to the policy; and

identify any associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy.

23. A program product for implementing policy-based management for legacy data, comprising:

program code configured upon execution thereof to;

identify a policy associated with one or more data objects, each stored on a respective associated storage device;

determine for each associated storage device at least one property related to the policy; and

identify any associated storage devices in which the at least one property violates the policy; and

a computer-readable signal bearing medium bearing the program code.