System and method for allocation of organizational resources

• US 20070198802A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Srinivas Kavuri
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kavuri, Srinivas
• Granted Patent: US 8,266,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

System and methods for storing electronic data is provided, where the system comprises a storage manager component and a management module associated with the storage manager component. The management module is configured to receive information related to storage activities associated with one or more storage operation components within the storage operation system under the direction of the storage manager component. The management module is adapted to predict storage operation resource allocations based on the received information related to the storage activities.

Claims

1. A method for allocating resources in a storage system, comprising:

identifying information relating to operation of the storage system;

collecting information identified in the identifying step;

analyzing collected information to forecast future system operation; and

allocating storage system resources based on forecast future system operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying further comprises identifying information representing past operation of the storage system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying further comprises specifying a time period of interest and identifying data within the time period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the time period of interest is specified by a user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the time period of interest is determined by software.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing further comprises forecasting a trend of storage system operation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the allocating storage system resources is based on the trend of operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the allocating storage system resources is based on a comparison of the trend of operation, with system operational requirements or preferences.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the allocating storage system resources further comprises:

determining a difference, if any, between a current state of storage system operation and system operational requirements or preferences;

determining at what point in the future, if any, based on the trend of system operation and the comparison, that system operation exceeds system operational requirements or preferences; and

allocating system resources such that system operational requirements or preferences are not exceeded.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing is based on analysis of storage system resources specified by a user.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing is based on analysis of clients or sub-clients.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing is based on analysis of storage devices or storage media.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing is based on analysis of data transfer paths.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing is based on analysis of hierarchically grouped storage systems resources.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing further comprises analyzing a growth of storage system resources.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing the growth of storage system resources includes analyzing the growth of one or more of the resources of the group comprising:

clients or sub-clients, media agents, storage devices and storage media and data transfer paths.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the allocation of storage system resources is based, at least in part, on the analyzing the growth of storage system resources.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing further comprises analyzing a utilization of storage system resources.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing the utilization of storage system resources includes analyzing the utilization of one or more of the resources of the group comprising:

clients or sub-clients, media agents, storage devices and storage media and data transfer paths.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the allocation of storage system resources is based, at least in part, on the analyzing the utilization of storage system resources.

21. A storage operation system, comprising:

a storage manager component; and

a reporting module associated with the storage manager component, the reporting module configured to receive information related to storage activities of one or more storage operation components associated with the storage manager component;

wherein the reporting module is configured to retrieve information from the storage operation system and generate performance reports based on the retrieved information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the reporting module generates performance reports based on storage system resources specified by a user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the reporting module generates performance reports based on pre-existing groups of storage system resources specified by a user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more performance reports are generated based on analysis of data relating to clients or sub-clients.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more performance reports are generated based on analysis of data relating to storage devices or storage media.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more performance reports are generated based on analysis of data relating to data transfer paths.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more performance reports are generated based on analysis of data relating to hierarchically grouped storage systems resources.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more performance reports are generated based on analysis of data relating to hierarchically grouped storage systems resources specified by a user.