System and Methods for Implementing a Server-Based Hierarchical Mass Storage System

• US 20140040205A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: StorSimple, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Cometto, Maurilio, Pangai, Gururaj, Degany, Ady
• Granted Patent: US 10,552,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/639
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0649 Lifecycle management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

Setting up and supporting the computer infrastructure for a remote satellite office is a difficult task for any information technology department. To simplify the task, an integrated server system with a hierarchical storage system is proposed. The hierarchical storage system includes the ability to store data at an off-site cloud storage service. The server system is remotely configurable and thus allows the server to be configured and populated with data from a remote location.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system, said method comprising:

installing a virtual storage device driver in an operating system running on a computer system, said virtual storage device driver for receiving data storage requests;

executing a hierarchical storage stack on said computer system for storing data, said hierarchical storage stack having an administration layer that allows remote configuration and control of said hierarchical storage stack, said hierarchical storage stack having at least one local data storage layer for storing data locally in said computer system, and said hierarchical storage stack having a remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service; and

directing all data storage requests received by said virtual storage device driver to said hierarchical storage stack.

2. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said virtual storage device driver comprises a Storport driver executing in a Windows Server.

3. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said virtual storage device driver comprises a virtual SCSI driver executing in a Linux Server.

4. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising:

executing an application program, said application program directly accessing said virtual storage device driver.

5. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said computer system comprises a cloud-based virtual server.

6. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said hierarchical data storage system exposes a network storage interface for applications to access.

7. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising:

receiving a request to create a new data volume in said administration layer of said hierarchical data storage system;

creating said new data volume in said hierarchical storage stack that will initially store data in said local data storage layer and later spill data to said remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service.

8. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a raw format and a second local data storage layer that stores data in a format with duplicate data removed.

9. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a solid-state memory system and a second local data storage layer that stores data on a hard disk drive.

10. The method of implementing a hierarchical data storage system as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising:

receiving a request to create a back-up of a data volume stored in said hierarchical data storage system;

creating a snapshot volume of said data volume in said hierarchical data storage system; and

copying data from said snapshot volume stored in said at least one local data storage layer to said remote data storage service.

11. A method of controlling an office server system, said method comprising:

installing an office server system at an office, said office server system comprising a hierarchical storage stack for storing data, said hierarchical storage stack having an administration layer that allows remote configuration and control of said hierarchical storage stack, said hierarchical storage stack having at least one local data storage layer for storing data locally in said office server system, and said hierarchical storage stack having a remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service;

coupling said office server system to an internet connection; and

remotely accessing said administration layer in said office server system through said internet connection to configure said office server system.

12. The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in claim 11, said method further comprising:

receiving in said administration layer a request to create a new data volume in said office server system;

allocating said new data volume in said hierarchical storage stack; and

creating storage space for said new data volume by transferring data from said at least one local data storage layer to said remote data storage layer that stores data with said remote data storage service.

13. The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in claim 11, said method further comprising:

receiving in said administration layer a request to restore a data volume;

copying a data volume snapshot index into said hierarchical storage stack to create a restored data volume, said data volume snapshot index referencing data in a remote server; and

copying data from said remote server as data in said restored data volume is requested by local users of said office server system.

14. The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in claim 11, said method further comprising:

receiving in said administration layer a request to back-up a data volume in said office server system;

creating a snapshot volume of said data volume in said office server system; and

copying data from said snapshot volume stored in said at least one local data storage layer to said remote data storage service.

15. A computer-readable medium, said computer-readable medium storing a set of computer instructions for implementing a hierarchical data storage system, said set of computer instructions performing the operations of:

installing a virtual storage device driver in an operating system running on a computer system, said virtual storage device driver for receiving data storage requests;

executing a hierarchical storage stack on said computer system for storing data, said hierarchical storage stack having an administration layer that allows remote configuration and control of said hierarchical storage stack, said hierarchical storage stack having at least one local data storage layer for storing data locally in said computer system, and said hierarchical storage stack having a remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service; and

directing all data storage requests received by said virtual storage device driver to said hierarchical storage stack.

16. The computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein said virtual storage device driver comprises a Storport driver executing in a Windows Server.

17. The computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein said computer system comprises a cloud-based virtual server.

18. The computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a raw format and a second local data storage layer that stores data in a format with duplicate data removed.

19. The computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a solid-state memory system and a second local data storage layer that stores data on a hard disk drive.

20. The computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein said set of computer instructions further perform the operations of:

receiving a request to create a back-up of a data volume stored in said hierarchical data storage system;

creating a snapshot volume of said data volume in said hierarchical data storage system; and

copying data from said snapshot volume stored in said at least one local data storage layer to said remote data storage service.