Methods and system of pooling storage devices

• US 9,507,525 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kottomtharayil, Rajiv, Chen, Ho-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rigol, Yaima
• Application Number:
  US14/449,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20150026401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A system and method are provided for pooling storage devices in a virtual library for performing a storage operation. A storage management device determines a storage characteristic of a plurality of storage devices with respect to performing a storage operation. Based on a storage characteristic relating to performing the storage operation, the storage management device associates at least two storage devices in a virtual library. The storage management device may continuously monitor the virtual library and detect a change in storage characteristics of the storage devices. When changes in storage characteristics are detected, the storage management device may change associations of the storage device in the virtual library.

Claims

1. A method for grouping storage devices comprising:

automatically detecting with at least one media management component comprising computer hardware, a change in the storage characteristics of a first group of storage devices comprising at least first and second physical storage devices, and wherein the first group of storage devices has at least a first set of future scheduled storage operations associated therewith;

automatically determining based on the first set of future scheduled storage operations, whether to add at least a third storage device to the first group of storage devices;

automatically determining with the at least one media management component, availability of the least a third physical storage, wherein determining the availability of the third storage device is based at least in part on whether the one or more of the first set of future scheduled storage operations associated with the first group of storage devices conflicts with one or more second set of future scheduled storage operations that are associated with the third storage device; and

automatically associating with the at least one media management component, the third physical storage device with the first group of storage devices without the need of user intervention.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disassociating the first storage device with the first group of storage devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein disassociating the first storage device from the first group of storage devices comprises updating an index with data indicating a disassociation of the first storage device with the first group of storage devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the characteristic of the first storage device that causes the first physical storage device to not satisfy a storage characteristic threshold;

identifying that a fourth storage device has a storage characteristic satisfying the storage characteristic threshold;

disassociating the first physical storage device from the first group of storage devices; and

associating the fourth physical storage device with the first group of storage devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a first request for data and a second request for data stored on the first group of storage devices and automatically determining that the first request is associated with data stored on a first configuration of the first group of storage devices and the second request is associated with data stored on a second configuration of the first group of storage devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the availability of the third physical storage device is based at least in part on the likelihood of network congestion associated with the second set of future scheduled storage operations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third storage device continues to be associated with a second group of storage devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of future scheduled storage operations are stored in an index associated with the at least one media agent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of future scheduled storage operations stored in association with a storage policy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of future scheduled storage operations is stored in association with a storage policy.

11. A system that groups storage devices comprising:

at least one media management component comprising computer hardware comprising at least one or more computer processors that automatically detect a change in storage characteristics of a first group of storage devices comprising at least first and second physical storage devices, and wherein the first group of storage devices has at least a first set of future scheduled storage operations associated therewith;

wherein the at least one media management component automatically determines based on the first set of future scheduled storage operations, whether to add at least a third storage device to the first group of storage devices;

wherein the at least one media management component automatically determines availability of the least a third physical storage, wherein determining the availability of the third storage device is based at least in part on whether the one or more of the first set of future scheduled storage operations associated with the first group of storage devices conflicts with one or more second set of future scheduled storage operations that are associated with the third storage device; and

wherein the media management component automatically associates the third physical storage device with the first group of storage devices without the need of user intervention.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one media management component disassociates the first storage device with the first group of storage devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein disassociating the first storage device from the first group of storage devices comprises updating an index with data indicating a disassociation of the first storage device with the first group of storage devices.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the media management component:

detects a change in the characteristic of the first storage device that causes the first physical storage device to not satisfy a storage characteristic threshold;

identifies that a fourth storage device has a storage characteristic satisfying the storage characteristic threshold;

disassociates the first physical storage device from the first group of storage devices; and

associates the fourth physical storage device with the first group of storage devices.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the media management component receives a first request for data and a second request for data stored on the first group of storage devices and automatically determines that the first request is associated with data stored on a first configuration of the first group of storage devices and the second request is associated with data stored on a second configuration of the first group of storage devices.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the availability of the third physical storage device is based at least in part on the likelihood of network congestion associated with the second set of future scheduled storage operations.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the third storage device continues to be associated with a second group of storage devices.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second sets of future scheduled storage operations are stored in an index associated with the at least one media agent.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of future scheduled storage operations stored in association with a storage policy.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the second set of future scheduled storage operations is stored in association with a storage policy.