System and method for performing replication copy storage operations

• US 20070143371A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kottomtharayil, Rajiv
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/184 implemented as replicated file system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A system and method are provided for performing storage operations relating to a first secondary copy of electronic data. A storage policy or storage preferences may dictate that a replication copy should be used in storage operations performed to a particular client, sub-client, data, media or other item. Based on the storage policy, when a new client, sub-client, data, media or other item is received, a media agent determines whether there is a replication copy of the item. In the absence of a replication copy, one may be created. The replication copy may be provided by a third party application, or created by the client or a storage management system component. Information regarding the replication copy and its corresponding first secondary copy may be stored in a database. To optimize use of system resources, storage operations relating to the first secondary copy may be performed using the replication copy instead of the first secondary copy.

Claims

1. A method for performing a storage operation using a replication copy, the method comprising:

identifying a data item for a storage operation;

identifying a storage policy associated with the data item;

determining whether a data source of the data item is available;

selecting the data source according to a criterion; and

performing the storage operation using the selected data source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data source is a replication copy or a first secondary copy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether a data source of the data item is available comprises consulting a schedule of storage operations involving the data source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the data source according to a criterion comprises calculating a metric of storage operation preferences.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating an index with data indicating the storage operation, the data indicating the storage operation including data identifying the data source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein if the data source is a replication copy, updating the index with data identifying the first secondary copy.

7. A method for performing a storage operation using a replication copy, the method comprising:

receiving a storage operation instruction, the storage operation instruction including data identifying a data item with which to perform the storage operation;

receiving a storage policy, the storage policy indicating that a storage operation relating to the data item should be performed using a replication copy;

determining whether the replication copy is available; and

performing the storage operation using the replication copy.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining whether the replication copy is available comprises consulting an index.

9. A method for optimizing storage operations in a storage management system, the method comprising:

receiving a storage operation request, the storage operation request identifying a data item with which to perform the storage operation;

consulting a database to determine whether a data source of the data item is available; and

selecting a data source, based on a selection criteria and a storage operation schedule, to perform the storage operation.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data source is a replication copy or a first secondary copy.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising updating an index with data indicating performance of the storage operation and the selected data source.

12. The method of claim 111 wherein if the data source is a replication copy, updating the index for the storage operation with data identifying the first secondary copy.

13. A storage management system for performing a storage operation, the system comprising:

a storage management component communicatively coupled to a database;

wherein the database includes a storage policy;

a media agent communicatively coupled to the storage management component, a first secondary copy and a replication copy;

wherein the storage management component is programmed to receive a storage operation request relating to the first secondary copy, consult the database to identify the replication copy that corresponds to the first secondary copy, and determine whether using the replication copy to perform the storage operation optimizes use of system resources; and

wherein the media agent is programmed to perform the storage operation using the replication copy.