Supplying data storage services

• US 8,819,234 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bauer, Andreas L., Todd, Stephen J., Wood, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Harunur
• Application Number:
  US11/904,880
• Time in Patent Office: 2,524 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/223, 709/214, 709/215, 707/609, 707/790
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5058 Service discovery by the service manager

Abstract

A method is used in supplying data storage services. For a set of applications running on an electronic system, an application service is provided to each application in the set to support operation of that application. The application service is separate from operating system services and security protection services provided by the electronic system. A data storage service provider being separate from the electronic system is communicated with to use resources of the data storage service provider in providing the application service to each application in the set.

Claims

1. A method for use in supplying data storage services, the method comprising:

discovering a set of applications running on an electronic system, wherein an application services system in communication with the electronic system discovers the set of applications for managing life cycle of each application of the set of applications, wherein managing life cycle of an application includes deploying the application, discovering the application, provisioning resources for the application, providing application services, and monitoring the application;

based on the discovery, querying a user to identify an application from the set of applications for managing the application;

based on the identification, providing an application service to the application identified by the user to support operation of that application, wherein the application service is provided by the application services system to the user, the application service being separate from operating system services and security protection services provided by the electronic system, wherein the application service includes provisioning service, backup service and migration service;

managing the application using a user interface provided by the application services system;

communicating with a data storage service provider being separate from the electronic system to use resources of the data storage service provider in providing the application service to the application identified by the user, wherein the data storage service provider having the control circuitry supplies mirroring and smart backup; and

monitoring the application by monitoring operations of the application and collecting data associated with the application, wherein the application is monitored by the application services system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application service comprises backup of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application service comprises replication of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the application service comprises disaster recovery restoration of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the application service comprises data deduplication of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application service comprises compression of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application service comprises cloning of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment, the method further comprising:

by the application service, cloning the data to another electronic system, wherein the another electronic system is another instance of the electronic system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the application service under a subscription fee arrangement.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the application service together with Internet connectivity.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting communications with the data storage service provider.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

staging operation of the application service to avoid high traffic times.

12. A method for use in supplying data storage services, the method comprising:

providing a entry point in an electronic system for providing external-based data storage services to the electronic system;

discovering a set of applications running on an electronic system, wherein an application services system in communication with the electronic system discovers the set of applications for managing life cycle of each application of the set of applications, wherein managing life cycle of an application includes deploying the application, discovering the application, provisioning resources for the application, providing application services, and monitoring the application;

based on the discovery, querying a user to identify an application from the set of applications for managing the application;

based on the identification, providing an application service to the application identified by the user to support operation of that application, wherein the application service is provided by the application services system to the user, the application service being separate from operating system services and security protection services provided by the electronic system, wherein the application service includes provisioning service, backup service and migration service;

managing the application using a user interface provided by the application services system;

communicating with a data storage service provider being separate from the electronic system to use resources of the data storage service provider in providing the application service to the application identified by the user, wherein the data storage service provider having the control circuitry supplies mirroring and smart backup; and

monitoring the application by monitoring operations of the application and collecting data associated with the application, wherein the application is monitored by the application services system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the application service comprises backup of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the application service comprises replication of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the application service comprises disaster recovery restoration of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the application service comprises data deduplication of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the application service comprises compression of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the application service comprises cloning of data used by each application in the set, and the data storage service provider resources used comprise data storage equipment, the method further comprising:

by the application service, cloning the data to another electronic system, wherein the another electronic system is another instance of the electronic system.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing the application service under a subscription fee arrangement.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing the application service together with Internet connectivity.