Data storage management for network interconnected processors
First Claim
1. A data storage management system for a data network which functions to interconnect a plurality of file servers, each of which stores data files, said data storage management system comprising:
- directory means, located in each of said plurality of file servers, for identifying a storage location of each data file stored on said file server;
secondary storage means, comprising a multi-layer hierarchical memory, wherein said layers in said multi-layer hierarchical memory comprise media of differing characteristics, for storing data files migrated from said plurality of file servers;
storage server means connected to said network for automatically managing transfer of data files between said plurality of file servers and said secondary storage means, comprising;
means for migrating selected data files from said plurality of file servers to said secondary storage means;
means for writing said migrated selected data files received from said plurality of file servers into selected available memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory, absent reservation of memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory on a file server basis;
means for writing in said directory means at a directory location for each of said migrated selected data files, data indicating that said migrated selected data file has been migrated to said secondary storage means and data identifying a physical data storage location in said storage server means for said migrated selected data file, which physical data storage location contains data indicative of a locus in said multi-layer hierarchical memory which contains said migrated selected data file;
means for collecting a plurality of data files, that are transmitted to said secondary storage means, into a transfer unit; and
means for storing said transfer unit on a first layer of said hierarchy.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The data storage system is connected to a local area network and includes a storage server that on a demand basis and/or on a periodically scheduled basis audits the activity on each volume of each data storage device that is connected to the network. Low priority data files are migrated via the network and the storage server to backend data storage media, and the directory resident in the data storage device is updated with a placeholder entry to indicate that this data file has been migrated to backend storage. When the processor requests this data file, the placeholder entry enables the storage server to recall the requested data file to the data storage device from which it originated.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A data storage management system for a data network which functions to interconnect a plurality of file servers, each of which stores data files, said data storage management system comprising:
-
directory means, located in each of said plurality of file servers, for identifying a storage location of each data file stored on said file server; secondary storage means, comprising a multi-layer hierarchical memory, wherein said layers in said multi-layer hierarchical memory comprise media of differing characteristics, for storing data files migrated from said plurality of file servers; storage server means connected to said network for automatically managing transfer of data files between said plurality of file servers and said secondary storage means, comprising; means for migrating selected data files from said plurality of file servers to said secondary storage means; means for writing said migrated selected data files received from said plurality of file servers into selected available memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory, absent reservation of memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory on a file server basis; means for writing in said directory means at a directory location for each of said migrated selected data files, data indicating that said migrated selected data file has been migrated to said secondary storage means and data identifying a physical data storage location in said storage server means for said migrated selected data file, which physical data storage location contains data indicative of a locus in said multi-layer hierarchical memory which contains said migrated selected data file; means for collecting a plurality of data files, that are transmitted to said secondary storage means, into a transfer unit; and
means for storing said transfer unit on a first layer of said hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. In a data storage management system for a data network which functions to interconnect a plurality of file servers, each of which stores data files, a method of data storage management comprising the steps of:
-
storing data in a directory, located in each of said plurality of file servers, for identifying a storage location of each data file stored on said file server; storing, in a secondary storage system, comprising a multi-layer hierarchical memory, wherein said layers in said multi-layer hierarchical memory comprise media of differing characteristics, data files migrated from said plurality of file servers; automatically managing transfer of data files between said plurality of file servers and said secondary storage system, comprising the step of; migrating selected data files from said plurality of file servers to said secondary storage system; writing said migrated selected data files received from said plurality of file servers into selected available memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory, absent reservation of memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory on a file server basis; writing in said directory at a directory location for each of said migrated selected data files, data indicating that said migrated selected data file has been migrated to said secondary storage system and data identifying a physical data storage location in said storage server for said migrated selected data file, which physical data storage location contains data indicative of a locus in said multi-layer hierarchical memory which contains said migrated selected data file; a multi-layer hierarchical memory, wherein said layers in said hierarchical memory comprise media of differing characteristics, said method further comprises; collecting a plurality of data files, that are transmitted to said secondary storage system, into a transfer unit; and storing said transfer unit on a first layer of said hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification