Systems and methods for performing replication copy storage operations

• US 8,725,694 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kottomtharayil, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/887,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 707/640, 711/162
• US Class Current: 707/640
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/184 implemented as replicated file system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A system and method are provided for performing storage operations relating to a first secondary copy of electronic data. A storage policy or storage preferences may dictate that a replication copy should be used in storage operations performed to a particular client, sub-client, data, media or other item. Based on the storage policy, when a new client, sub-client, data, media or other item is received, a media agent determines whether there is a replication copy of the item. In the absence of a replication copy, one may be created. The replication copy may be provided by a third party application, or created by the client or a storage management system component. Information regarding the replication copy and its corresponding first secondary copy may be stored in a database. To optimize use of system resources, storage operations relating to the first secondary copy may be performed using the replication copy instead of the first secondary copy.

Claims

1. A method for performing a storage operation using a replication copy, the method comprising:

receiving a storage policy indicating that a storage operation should be performed on a first set of data stored on a first storage volume;

determining that a replication copy is available on a second storage volume, wherein the replication copy is comprises a second set of data that is a copy of the first set of data;

evaluating with computer hardware comprising one or more computer processors, a selection criteria based at least on scheduling of the storage operation;

performing with the computer hardware, the storage operation on the second set of data associated with the replication copy on the second storage volume rather than the first set of data on the first storage volume, based on the availability of the replication copy and based on the selection criteria; and

creating a third set of data based on performing the storage operation on the second set of data.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising updating an index to indicate completion of the storage operation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the updating comprises modifying the index to indicate that the storage operation was performed on the first set of data after the storage operation was performed on the replication copy.

4. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising generating the first set of data by creating a copy of a set of production data of a particular software application.

5. The method of claim 4, additionally comprising monitoring changes to the production data with a filter driver.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the first set of data comprises processing a log file containing a least a portion of the changes monitored by the filter driver.

7. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising generating the replication copy via a snapshot operation.

8. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising generating the replication copy via a mirroring operation.

9. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising performing a second storage operation on the first set of data, wherein the second storage operation at least partially overlaps the first storage operation on the second set of data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that a replication copy is available further comprises determining if the replication copy is online or offline.

11. A storage management system configured to perform storage operations, the storage management system comprising:

computer hardware comprising one or more computer processors, the computer hardware configured to;

determine that a replication copy is available on a second storage volume, wherein the replication copy is comprises a second set of data that is a copy of the first set of data;

evaluate with computer hardware comprising one or more computer processors, a selection criteria based at least on scheduling of the storage operation;

perform the storage operation on the second set of data associated with the replication copy on the second storage volume rather than the first set of data on the first storage volume, based on the availability of the replication copy and based on the selection criteria; and

create a third set of data based on performing the storage operation on the second set of data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to update an index to indicate completion of the storage operation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the update comprises modifying the index to indicate that the storage operation was performed on the first set of data after the storage operation was performed on the replication copy.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to generate the first set of data by creating a copy of a set of production data of a particular software application.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to monitor changes to the production data with a filter driver.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to generate the first set of data by processing a log file containing a least a portion of the changes monitored by the filter driver.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to generate the replication copy via a snapshot operation.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to generate the replication copy via a mirroring operation.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer hardware is further configured to perform a second storage operation on the first set of data, wherein the second storage operation at least partially overlaps the first storage operation on the second set of data.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein determining that a replication copy is available further comprises determining if the replication copy is online or offline.