Data management system

• US 7,206,790 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ldt Hitachi
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kodama, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo; Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US10/890,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/200, 707/201, 707/103.R, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/205, 717/171, 717/105, 709/226, 715/828
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method of collecting information about data and data handling processes from different types of applications in the context of a storage system is described. The retrieved information is presented to the user to illustrate the relationships among the data, for example, in the form of a data view illustrating the relationship among files, a storage view, illustrating the physical location at which the stored data is located, or a path view illustrating a particular path through the topology of the overall computing system and storage system. Also described are techniques for assuring the accuracy of backed up files.

Claims

1. In a storage system having arrays of hard disk storage devices for storing information, a data manager operative to collect and store information about relationships among files stored in the storage system for presentation to a user, comprising:

for a backup file of a first file, the data manager collects information about the backup file and creates an association between the first file and the backup file,

for an archive file of the first file, the data manager collects information about the archive file and creates an association between the first file and the archive file,

for a replication file of the first file, the data manager collects information about the replication file and creates an association between the first file and the replication file,

wherein the information for the association between the first file and the backup file is stored in a backup server,

wherein the information for the association between the first file and the archive file is stored in an archive server,

wherein the information for the association between the first file and the replication file is stored in a replication server,

wherein for a given file, the data manager displays one or more related files associated with the given file, the related files being one or more of a backup file, an archive file, or a replication file, and the data manager displays a graphical user interface that provides a user with the option of selecting from among a data view and a storage view and a path view.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the relationships include information about locations where the data is stored in the storage system.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the location information includes information about locations of at least one of replica, archive and/or back-up locations for the data.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the relationships include at least one of a physical location and/or a virtual location for data stored in the system.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the relationships include path information identifying a path to the data.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the path information includes port and switch information for locating the data.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the data view illustrates how the first file is related to other files by showing data locations of the backup file, archive file, and replication file.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the storage view illustrates data volumes in the storage system that contain the first file, backup file, archive file, and replication file.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the path view illustrates data handling processes in the storage system though which the first file is transferred.

10. A storage system having a plurality of processes operating therein for handling data, the storage system comprising at least two of a replication server for replicating stored data to provide replication copies of the stored data, and/or a backup server for providing backup copies of the stored data, and/or an archive server for archiving the stored data to provide archived copies of the stored data, the storage system further comprising a data manager for tracking and associating the stored data with respect to location information and path information,

the location information being at least one of a location of the replication copies of the stored data, a location of the backup copies of the stored data, and/or a location of the archived copies of the stored data;

the path information being at least one of a path to the replication copies of the stored data, a path to the backup copies of the stored data, and/or a path to the archived copies of the stored data; and

wherein the data manager displays a graphical user interface that provides a user with the option of selecting from among a data view and a storage view and a path view.

11. A storage system as in claim 10 wherein the data manager receives user input and in response displays location information and path information associated with stored data identified in the user input.

12. A storage system as in claim 10, wherein the data view illustrates how the first file is related to other files by showing data locations of the backup file, archive file, and replication file.

13. A storage system as in claim 10, wherein the storage view illustrates data volumes in the storage system that contain the first file, backup file, archive file, and replication file.

14. A storage system as in claim 10, wherein the path view illustrates data handling processes in the storage system though which the first file is transferred.

15. A storage system comprising:

at least one application server;

a data manager;

a first kind of server, the first kind of server being one of a backup server which creates backup files, an archive server which creates archive files, or a replication server which creates replication files;

at least a second kind of server, the second kind of server being one of a backup server which creates backup files, an archive server which creates archive files, or a replication server which creates replication files; and

a plurality of storage devices accessible by the application server, the data manager, the first kind of server, and the second kind of server,

the data manager in communication with the first kind of server and the second kind of server and operative to collect information therefrom and to create relationship information indicative of associations among files stored in the storage system for presenting to a user,

wherein the relationship information associates a first file with two of a backup file of the first file, an archive file of the first file, or a replication file of the first file, the first file being created by the application server and

wherein the data manager displays a graphical user interface that provides a user with the option of selecting from among a data view and a storage view and a path view.

16. A storage system as in claim 15 wherein the data manager is further operative to present a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user, the GUI displaying one or more files and one or more view selectors,

a first view selector corresponding to an action wherein location information of a backup file, or an archive file, or a replication file associated with a selected file is displayed,

a second view selector corresponding to an action wherein path information of a backup file, or an archive file, or a replication file associated with a selected file is displayed.

17. A storage system as in claim 15, wherein the data view illustrates how the first file is related to other files by showing data locations of the backup file, archive file, and replication file.

18. A storage system as in claim 15, wherein the storage view illustrates data volumes in the storage system that contain the first file, backup file, archive file, and replication file.

19. A storage system as in claim 15, wherein the path view illustrates data handling processes in the storage system through which the first file is transferred.