Method and system for grouping storage system components

• US 8,443,142 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kavuri, Srinivas, Prahlad, Anand, Vibhor, Anand, Gokhale, Parag
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, DUC T
• Application Number:
  US13/149,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1453 using de-duplication of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/00 Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures digital input from, or digital output to record carriers, e.g. to disk storage units, G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/02 Addressing or allocation; Relocation program address sequencing G06F9/00; arrangements for selecting an address in a digital store G11C8/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/815 Virtual middleware or OS functionality using virtual machines to implement generic software techniques for error detection or fault masking G06F11/1484
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0665 at area level, e.g. provisioning of virtual or logical volumes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• 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

Methods and systems are provided for associating a storage system component, e.g. a server, client, machine, sub-client, or other storage system component, with one or more other storage system components into a group. Storage preferences are defined for the group which is automatically associated with each component in the group. The storage preferences define how storage operations are to be performed on the storage system components.

Claims

1. A method for grouping networked storage system components, the method comprising:

creating a first group of networked storage system components including one or more of hardware components and software components;

associating with one or more computer processors the first group with a first schedule of storage operations which is set in a first storage policy associated with the first group;

creating a second group of networked storage system components including one or more of hardware components and software components;

associating with one or more computer processors the second group with a second schedule of storage operations which is set in a second storage policy associated with the second group; and

assigning at least a first storage system component associated with the first group to both the first group and the second group, wherein the first storage system component inherits the second schedule of storage operations set in the second storage policy associated with the second group while retaining the first schedule of storage operations set in the first storage policy associated with the first group, and in the event the first schedule of storage operations set in the first storage policy associated with the first group conflicts with the second schedule of storage operations set in the second storage policy associated the second group, the schedule of storage operations associated with a higher priority controls.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the first group comprises selecting storage system components based on the storage system components having a common characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the first group is based on a template.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the first group is based on user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first storage system component automatically inherits the second schedule of storage operations associated with the second group while retaining the first schedule of storage operations associated with the first group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the first schedule of storage operations is to be performed on the first storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the first schedule of storage operations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the second schedule of storage operations is to be performed on the first storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the second schedule of storage operations.

8. A computer system for grouping networked storage system components, the system comprising:

a first group of networked storage system components including one or more of hardware components and software components, wherein the hardware components comprise one or more computer processors;

a second group of networked storage system components including one or more of hardware components and software components, wherein the hardware components comprise one or more computer processors;

at least a first schedule of storage operations which is set in a first storage policy associated with the first group;

at least a second schedule of storage operations which is set in a second storage policy associated with the second group; and

wherein in the event at least a first storage system component associated with the first group is assigned to both the first group and the second group, the first storage system component inherits the second schedule of storage operations set in the second storage policy associated with the second group while retaining the first schedule of storage operations set in the first storage policy associated with the first group, and in the event the first schedule of storage operations set in the first storage policy conflicts with the second schedule of storage operations set in the second storage policy, the schedule of storage operations associated with a higher priority controls.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the storage system components are grouped based on the storage system components having a common characteristic.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the storage system components are grouped based on a template.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the storage system components are grouped based on user input.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein when the first storage system component automatically inherits the second schedule of storage operations associated with the second group while retaining the first schedule of storage operations associated with the first group.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the first schedule of storage operations is to be performed on the first storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the first schedule of storage operations.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the second schedule of storage operations is to be performed on the first storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the second schedule of storage operations.