Restoration of centralized data storage manager, such as data storage manager in a hierarchical data storage system

• US 9,069,799 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Vijayan, Manoj Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, FARHAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/727,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/835 Timestamp

Abstract

Systems and methods for restoring a database in an information management system that does not include a secondary copy of the database, are disclosed. The systems and methods may include using metadata stored in non-production storage devices to restore the database. In some implementations the methods are used to consolidate multiple information management systems. In other implementations, the systems and methods are used for reviewing content of archived storage media. Other implementations are disclosed.

Claims

1. At least one tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processing device, perform recreating an original information management database for an information management network, wherein the information management network does not have access to an acceptable secondary copy of the original information management database, the instructions comprising:

receiving, by an information management server, instructions associated with identifying non-production storage media via a user interface,

wherein the information management server provides information management services to client computing devices within the information management network,

wherein the original information management database includes data identifying files stored by the information management server and client computing devices associated with those files;

wherein the non-production storage media contain secondary copies of application data generated by the client computing devices in the information management network; and

wherein the instructions indicate whether the information management server performs an automated search of the information management network or a manual search of the information management network,

wherein when the instructions indicate a manual search, the instructions further include one or more of a network address for at least one of the non-production storage media and an identifier of at least one of the non-production storage media;

identifying, with the information management server, non-production storage media within the information management network in accordance with the received instructions;

scanning, with the information management server, the identified non-production storage media for metadata associated with the secondary copies of the application data,

wherein the metadata includes headers at the beginning of a file within at least one of the secondary copies of the application data, trailing file markers appended to the end of the file, or both headers and trailing file markers, and wherein the metadata includes-information regarding files recorded in the original information management database, and

information regarding the client computing devices associated with each of the files;

retrieving the metadata from the non-production storage media, but not retrieving the secondary copies of the application data; and

populating a reconstructed information management database with the retrieved metadata from the non-production storage media,

wherein the reconstructed information management database is substantially similar to the original information management database.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the information management network is a private network,

wherein the client computing devices have private IP addresses so that computing devices that are not connected to the private network cannot access the client computing devices without logging into the private network, and

wherein at least some of the client computing devices are associated with a storage management cell that is hierarchically subordinate to the information management server, and wherein the information management server is configured to control and access the original information management database and the reconstructed information management database.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user interface, with the information management server, to enable a user to provide instructions associated with identifying the non-production storage media;

receiving, via the user interface, the instructions associated with identifying the non-production storage media,

wherein the instructions indicate whether the information management server performs an automated search of the information management network or a manual search of the information management network,

wherein when the instructions indicate a manual search, the instructions further include one or more of a network address for at least one of the non-production storage media and an identifier of at least one of the non-production storage media; and

displaying at least some of the non-production storage media identified by the information management server,

wherein displaying includes displaying a device ID for the at least some of the non-production storage media,

wherein the user interface receives selections from the user of one or more of the displayed non-production storage media, and

wherein scanning the identified non-production storage media includes scanning the selected ones of the displayed ones of the non-production storage media and not from non-production storage media not selected via the user interface.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying at least some of the non-production storage media identified by the information management server,

wherein displaying includes displaying a device ID for the at least some of the non-production storage media,

wherein a user interface receives selections from a user of one or more of the displayed ones of the non-production storage media,

wherein scanning the identified non-production storage media includes scanning the selected ones of the displayed ones of the non-production storage media and not from non-production storage media that has not been selected via the user interface.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the information management network is a first network that is a subnetwork of a second network,

wherein the information management server is a first information management server that receives information management instructions associated with the client computing devices from a second information management server,

wherein the first information management server created at least some of the secondary copies of application data on at least some of the identified non-production storage media.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein, for the ones of the non-production storage media that are magnetic tapes, scanning includes:

reading, into temporary memory of the information management server, portions of content on the non-production storage media; and

,

writing over the portions of the content in the temporary memory with additional portions of the content until metadata is found.

7. A method of, upon losing a master information management database, restoring or rebuilding the master information management database for an information management network, wherein the information management network does not include a secondary copy of the master information management database, in a single storage device, available for immediate use by an information management server, the method comprising:

identifying, with an information management server, all computing devices within the information management network,

wherein the information management network is a hierarchical network;

wherein the information management server directs intermediate information management servers to perform information management services for client computing devices within the information management network,

wherein information management services include;

creating secondary copies of application data stored by the client computing devices, and

restoring the secondary copies of the application data to the client computing devices, and,

wherein identifying the computing devices includes receiving a network address for each of the computing devices;

identifying the ones of the computing devices that are intermediate information management servers,

wherein identifying the intermediate information management servers includes automatically identifying the intermediate information management severs or manually identifying the intermediate information management servers;

requesting a copy of an intermediate information management database from each intermediate information management server,

wherein the intermediate information management databases include records for mapping non-production storage media to secondary copies of application data for client computing devices,

wherein each intermediate information management database includes some records, but not all records associated with all the client computing devices, and

wherein the intermediate information management databases cumulatively include all records associated with all the client computing devices;

receiving copies of the intermediate information management databases from the intermediate information management servers; and

populating the master information management database with information from the received intermediate information management databases.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein automatically identifying the intermediate information management servers includes:

requesting identifying names from the computing devices using the received network addresses, and

selecting the intermediate information management servers from all of the computing devices based on the names of the computing devices.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein manually identifying the intermediate information management servers includes:

providing a user interface; and

receiving, from a user via the user interface, selections of the intermediate information management servers from all the computing devices.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein each of the records includes:

a time at which one of the secondary copies of application data was created;

an identifier of which one of the client computer devices the one of the secondary copies of application data corresponds to; and

an identifier of a secondary copy format used to create the one of the secondary copies of application data.

11. A method of consolidating multiple information management computing devices into a single information management computing device without disrupting information management operations within an information management system, the method comprising:

identifying, with the single information management computing device, the multiple information management computing devices,

wherein the identifying includes receiving a network address for each of the information management computing devices, and

wherein the identifying includes automatically identifying the information management computing devices or manually identifying the information management computing devices;

requesting, with the single information management computing device, copies of information management databases from each of the multiple information management computing devices,

wherein the copies of information management databases include records for mapping non-production storage media to secondary copies of application data for client computing devices,

wherein the copies cumulatively include all records associated with all the client computing devices;

receiving, with the single information management computing device, the requested copies of the information management database from each of the multiple information management computing devices;

merging, with the single information management computing device, the copies of the information management databases into a master information management database stored on the single information management computing device; and

initiating communications with client computing devices that were managed by each of the multiple information management computing devices regarding information management operations performed by the multiple information management computing devices and to enable a user to take each of the multiple information management computing devices offline without disrupting the information management services,

wherein the information management operations include;

creating secondary copies of application data stored by client computing devices, and

restoring the secondary copies of the application data to client computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the multiple information management computing devices includes automatically identifying the multiple information management computing devices or manually identifying the multiple information management computing devices,

wherein manually identifying the multiple information management computing devices includes:

providing a user interface;

identifying all computing devices on a private network;

displaying a list of the computing devices for a user to select from; and

receiving selections from the list of the computing devices by the user.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein, prior to being taken offline, each of the multiple information management computing devices regulates the information management operations of a corresponding information management cell,

wherein each corresponding information management cell includes intermediate information management servers and client computing devices that store or generate production data,

wherein each intermediate management server:

creates secondary copies of production data for ones of the client computing devices that are within the information management cell of the intermediate information management computing device;

selectively restores the secondary copies of production data for the ones of the client computing devices that are within the information management cell of the intermediate information management computing device; and

migrates the secondary copies from a first set of non-production storage devices to a second set of non-production storage devices.

14. A system for selectively recreating an original information management database for an information management network from data that is stored on magnetic tapes, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one data storage device;

means for receiving instructions associated with identifying magnetic tapes via a user interface,

wherein the original information management database includes data identifying files stored by the system and client computing devices associated with those files;

wherein the magnetic tapes contain secondary copies of application data generated by the client computing devices in the information management network; and

wherein the instructions indicate whether the system performs an automated search of the information management network, or a manual search of the information management network with instructions having a network address and an identifier of at least one of the magnetic tapes,

means for establishing a connection between a computing device and a magnetic tape reader;

means for scanning, with the computing device, magnetic tapes via the magnetic tape reader for metadata associated with secondary copies of application data stored on the magnetic tapes,

wherein the metadata includes file markers appended to a file of the secondary copies of the application data, and

wherein the metadata includes information regarding the client computing devices associated with each of the files;

wherein the file markers identify a secondary copy format used in storing the secondary copies of the application data generated by the client computing devices,

wherein the file markers identify the type of information included within the secondary copies of the application data,

wherein the file markers identify the size of the secondary copies of the application data,

wherein the file markers identify start and stop locations on the magnetic tapes for the secondary copies of the application data, and

wherein the file markers identify the magnetic tapes, and

wherein the means for scanning includes;

means for reading, into temporary memory of the information management server, portions of content on the non-production storage media; and

,

means for writing over the portions of the content in the temporary memory with additional portions of the content until metadata is found;

means for retrieving the scanned metadata and not the secondary copies of the application data from the non-production storage media;

means for populating a database with the retrieved metadata from the non-production storage media;

means for displaying at least a portion of the database in a user interface to enable a user to select one or more entries of the database; and

means for restoring portions of the secondary copies of the application data to the computing device in response to a selection of the one or more entries of the database by the user.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a restore agent; and

a media agent that includes a database that maps non-production data on non-production storage media to client computing devices that are directly managed by the media agent,

wherein when the database of the media agent is damaged or rendered unusable, the restore agent restores the database of the media agent by retrieving content from non-production storage media or by requesting from a storage manager those portions of a storage manager database that are associated with the media agent.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the metadata includes headers at the beginning of each of the magnetic tapes, wherein the headers identify the magnetic tapes, and wherein the metadata includes file trailers that identify a secondary copy format used in storing the secondary copies of the application data, identify the type of information included within the secondary copies of the application data, identify the size of the secondary copies of the application data, and identify the start and stop locations on the magnetic tapes for the secondary copies of the application data.