Data management system

• US 20060015544A1
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ldt Hitachi
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kodama, Shoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method of collecting information about data and data handling processes from different types of applications in the context of a storage system is described. The retrieved information is presented to the user to illustrate the relationships among the data, for example, in the form of a data view illustrating the relationship among files, a storage view, illustrating the physical location at which the stored data is located, or a path view illustrating a particular path through the topology of the overall computing system and storage system. Also described are techniques for assuring the accuracy of backed up files.

Claims

1. In a storage system having arrays of storage devices for storing information, a data manager for collecting information about relationships among files stored therein for presentation to a user, wherein the relationships include at least one of back-up, replication and archive for particular files.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the relationships include information about locations where the data is stored in the storage system.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the relationships include at least one of a physical location and a virtual location for data stored in the system.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the location information includes information about locations of at least one of replica, archive and back-up locations for the data.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the relationships include path information identifying a path to the data.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the path information includes port and switch information for locating the data.

2. (canceled)

8. A storage system having a plurality of processes operating therein for handling data, including at least two of a replication server for replicating stored data to provide replication copies of the stored data, a backup server for providing backup copies of the stored data, an archive server for archiving the stored data to provided archive copies of the stored data and a storage manager for managing the stored data, the storage system further comprising a data manager for tracking the stored data in at least two of the following:

recording at least one of a location of the replicated stored data, a location of the backup copies of the stored data, and a location of the archived copies of the stored data;

recording at least one of a path to the replicated stored data, a path to the backup copies of the stored data, and a path to the archived copies of the stored data; and

recording at least one of a relationship of the data to the replicated stored data, to the backup copies of the stored data, and the archived copies of the stored data.

9. A storage system as in claim 8 wherein each of the steps of recording further comprises establishing communication between the data manager and the corresponding server to enable the data manager to obtain information from the server regarding data that server manages.