Systems and methods for facilitating storage operations using network attached storage devices

• US 7,769,890 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Ho-chi, Kottomtharayil, Rajiv, Littlefield, Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin; Wen-Tai
• Application Number:
  US11/825,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/239
• 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, a plurality of storage media connected to the media management component, at least one network attached storage (NAS) device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component, the method comprising the following computer-implemented steps:

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,

wherein the media management component further comprises a verification component, a routing component, a browsing component and a metadata component for coordinating and verifying the transfer of data between the data source and a file server associated with the at least one network attached storage device, and wherein the first and second paths include respective media management components and network attached storage components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network attached storage components operate using the NDMP protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first data path includes a first media management component; and

when the monitoring indicates that the first data path is operating below a threshold, the second path including a second media management component distinct from the first media management component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the second data path is based on a storage policy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the second data path is based on a property of the network attached storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network attached storage device does not include an operating system.

7. 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, at least one network attached storage (NAS) device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component, the method comprising the following computer-implemented steps:

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

determining a first data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device, the first data path being determined based on at least one of a group comprising a storage policy, a property of the network attached storage device, or a load of the storage system,

wherein the media management component further comprises a verification component, a routing component, a browsing component and a metadata component for coordinating and verifying the transfer of data between the data source and a file server associated with the at least one network attached storage device, and wherein the first and second paths include respective media management components and network attached storage components.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network attached storage device operates using the NDMP protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising monitoring the first data path to determine if the first data path is operating below a threshold.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a second data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device if the first data path is operating below a threshold, the second data path being distinct from the first data path.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second path includes a second media management component distinct from the first media management component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining the second data path is based on a storage policy.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining the second data path is based on a property of the network attached storage device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a plurality of sequences of instructions 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, at least one network attached storage (NAS) device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component such that when the sequences of instructions are executed by one or more processors cause an electronic device to:

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

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

monitor a load of the data path; and

determine 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, wherein the media management component further comprises a verification component, a routing component, a browsing component and a metadata component for coordinating and verifying the transfer of data between the data source and a file server associated with the at least one network attached storage device, and wherein the first and second paths include respective media management components and network attached storage components.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a plurality of sequences of instructions 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, at least one network attached storage (NAS) device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component such that when the sequences of instructions are executed by one or more processors cause an electronic device to:

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

determine a first data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device, the first data path being determined based on at least one of a group comprising a storage policy, a property of the network attached storage device, or a load of the storage system, wherein the media management component further comprises a verification component, a routing component, a browsing component and a metadata component for coordinating and verifying the transfer of data between the data source and a file server associated with the at least one network attached storage device, and wherein the first and second paths include respective media management components and network attached storage components.