Modular backup and retrieval system used in conjunction with a storage area network

• US 7,035,880 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Oshinsky, David Alan, Crescenti, John, Prahlad, Anand, Kavuri, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/610,738
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/200, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204, 707/205, 714/1, 714/2, 714/4, 714/20, 711/162, 709/203, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A modular computer storage system and method is provided for managing and directing data archiving functions. A client component is associated with one or more client devices for generating archival request. A file processor directs one or more storage devices, through one or more media components, which control the actual physical level backup on various storage devices. Each media component creates a library indexing system for locating stored data. A management component coordinates the archival functions between the various client components and the file processor, including setting scheduling policies, aging policies, index pruning policies, drive cleaning policies, configuration information, and keeping track of running and waiting jobs. The management component also keeps the scheduling information for a timetable of backups of the client devices and allocates storage space. The modular computer storage system may also work in conjunction with a Storage Area Network.

Claims

1. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding a backup schedule.

2. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding an aging policy.

3. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding index pruning.

4. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding a type of backup.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein communicating with the management component regarding the type of backup comprises communicating with the management component regarding a full backup.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein communicating with the management component regarding the type of backup comprises communicating with the management component regarding an incremental backup.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein communicating with the management component regarding the type of backup comprises communicating with the management component regarding a differential backup.

8. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding a backup schedule.

9. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding an aging policy.

10. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding index pruning.

11. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding a type of backup.

12. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component or the media component regarding a type of backup comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding a full backup.

13. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component or the media component regarding a type of backup comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding an incremental backup.

14. A method for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device;

providing a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, controlling one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

providing a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, directing the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein providing the client component to coordinate backup and retrieval functions comprises the client component communicating with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein directing the client component or the media component regarding a type of backup comprises directing the client component or the media component regarding a differential backup.

15. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding a backup schedule.

16. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding an aging policy.

17. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding index pruning.

18. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request; and

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding a type of backup.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the client component is programmed to communicate with the management component regarding a full backup.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the client component is programmed to communicate with the management component regarding an incremental backup.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the client component is programmed to communicate with the management component regarding a differential backup.

22. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein the management component is further programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding a backup schedule.

23. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein the management component is further programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding an aging policy.

24. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein the management component is further programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding index pruning.

25. A system for performing an archival type request for a client computing device in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client component programmed to coordinate backup and retrieval functions for the computing device

a media component, communicatively coupled to the client component, programmed to control one or more backup devices directed to performing archival type requests;

a management component, communicatively coupled to the client component and the media component, programmed to direct the client component and the media component to perform the archival type request;

wherein the client component is further programmed to communicate with the management component regarding backup and retrieval functions; and

wherein the management component is further programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding a type of backup.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the management component is programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding a full backup.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the management component is programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding an incremental backup.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the management component is programmed to direct the client component or the media component regarding a differential backup.