Systems and Methods for Facilitating Storage Operations Using Network Attached Storage Devices

• US 20110035621A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: LITTLEFIELD, Duncan, KOTTOMTHARAYIL, Rajiv, CHEN, Ho-Chi
• Application Number:
  US12/878,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1827 Management specifically adapted to NAS management of storage area networks [SAN] G06F3/067
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2308 Concurrency control transaction processing G06F9/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and routing data in storage operation systems using network attached storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a management module and a media management component connected to the management server, which interoperate with network attached storage devices to provide the communicating, browsing, verifying and routing functions.

Claims

1. A method for protecting data in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising:

receiving a request to store source data on the network attached storage device;

receiving the source data;

adding metadata to the source data, the meta data being specific to the storage system; and

writing the source data and the metadata to the network attached storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the writing is performed by a file server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media management component generates the metadata.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein respective metadata is added for each chunk of source data.

2. A method for protecting data in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, a plurality of storage media connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component, the method comprising:

receiving a request to perform a storage operation for source data stored on the data source;

determining a first data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device;

monitoring a load of the data path; and

determining a second data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device the second data path being distinct from the first data path.

3. A method for verifying data stored in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising:

sending a request to restore stored data, the stored data being stored on a network attached storage device and including first metadata;

receiving the stored data;

comparing the first metadata with second metadata stored in the storage system;

verifying the stored data based on the comparing; and

writing the stored data to a data destination, the data destination excluding a storage medium.

7. A system for protecting data, the system comprising:

a management server;

a media management component connected to the management server;

a data source connected to the management server, the data source including source data; and

at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, the network attached storage including the source data and metadata specific to the storage system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the media management component writes the source data and metadata to the network attached storage device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the media management component generates the metadata.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein metadata is added by the media management component for each chunk of source data.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating a list of files under management for the selected network attached storage devices.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing a user to select files from the list of files under management.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising allowing a user to browse the selected files.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the option of refreshing system components with the restored files.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the system components comprise a storage manager database, a storage manager index or a media management index.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising allowing a user to optionally copy the restored files to another network location or portable storage media.

11. A method for reconstructing an index in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, the media management component including the index, at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising:

receiving a request to restore source data stored on a network attached storage device;

reading the source data from the network attached storage device;

reading meta data stored with the source data on the network attached storage device; and

reconstructing the index using the metadata.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising allowing a user to request and receive more information regarding the browsed files.

12. A method for browsing data on a network attached storage device, the method comprising:

generating a request to browse information stored on a network attached storage device;

creating and displaying a list of networks including network attached storage devices;

selecting one or more networks of interest;

selecting one or more network attached storage devices in the selected network; and

retrieving data from the selected network attached storage devices.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the allowing further comprises fully or partially restoring the browsed files.