Backup storage management

• US 8,924,667 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Vasavi, Sagi, Dasari, Rajashekar
• Primary Examiner(s): Rigol, Yaima
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEBRIL, MOHAMED M
• Application Number:
  US13/251,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20130086341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media with executable instructions stored thereon for backup storage management are provided. A utilization threshold can be defined for each of a number of virtual tape libraries (VTLs). A number of slipped backup jobs can be identified, wherein each of the number of slipped backup jobs is associated with one of the number of VTLs. A number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs can be collected and storage can be allocated for each of the number of slipped backup jobs via a VTL backup storage manager that analyzes the utilization threshold, the number of slipped backup jobs, and the number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs.

Claims

1. A method for backup storage management, comprising:

defining a utilization threshold for each of a number of virtual tape libraries (VTLs);

identifying a number of slipped backup jobs, wherein each of the number of slipped backup jobs is associated with one of the number of VTLs;

collecting a number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs, wherein collecting the number of storage statistics includes checking for a reclaim space flag and a VTL storage extensibility flag of each of the number of VTLs; and

allocating storage for each of the number of slipped backup jobs via a VTL backup storage manager that analyzes the utilization threshold, the number of slipped backup jobs, and the number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs,

wherein allocating the storage includes creating a new VTL for at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the VTL corresponding to at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeds the defined utilization threshold, does not have a reclaim space flag, and does not have a VTL storage extensibility flag, and

wherein creating the new VTL for the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs includes assigning a new utilization threshold to the new VTL equal to the defined utilization threshold of the VTL corresponding to the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the number of storage statistics includes checking for a VTL utilization percentage of each of the number of VTLs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating the storage includes extending VTL storage of the VTL corresponding to at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the corresponding VTL exceeds the defined utilization threshold and has a VTL storage extensibility flag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating the storage includes reclaiming VTL storage of the VTL corresponding to the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the corresponding VTL exceeds the defined utilization threshold, has a reclaim space flag, and does not have a VTL storage extensibility flag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes rescheduling a particular one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the VTL corresponding to the particular one of the each of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeds the defined utilization threshold.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

initiate a backup of data in a datacenter, wherein the backup includes a number of backup jobs;

define a utilization threshold for each of a number of virtual tape libraries (VTLs) in the datacenter;

identify a number of slipped backup jobs of the backup jobs, wherein each of the number of slipped backup jobs is associated with one of the number of VTLs;

allocate storage for each of the number of slipped backup jobs via a VTL backup storage manager that analyzes the utilization threshold, the number of slipped backup jobs, and a number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs,

wherein the number of storage statistics includes a check for a reclaim space flag and a VTL storage extensibility flag of each of the number of VTLs,

wherein to allocate the storage includes creation of a new VTL for at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the VTL corresponding to at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeds the defined utilization threshold, does not have a reclaim space flag, and does not have a VTL storage extensibility flag, and

wherein creation of the new VTL for the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs includes assignment of a new utilization threshold to the new VTL equal to the defined utilization threshold of the VTL corresponding to the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs; and

reschedule a particular one of the number of slipped backup jobs.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the utilization threshold for each of the number of VTLs includes a threshold percentage of free space present in the VTL.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions to define a utilization threshold for each of the number of VTLs includes instructions to categorize each of the VTLs according to a mission criticality rating associated with a utilization threshold.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein instructions to allocate the storage include instructions to:

create a new VTL for at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the VTL corresponding to at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeds the defined utilization threshold; and

assign the at least one of the collected number of storage statistics of the VTL corresponding to the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs that exceeds the defined utilization threshold to the new VTL.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, including instructions to:

define each of the number of VTLs as having a manual setting threshold, including setting a newly defined utilization threshold; and

define the new VTL as having an auto setting threshold, including setting an already defined utilization threshold.

11. A system for backup storage management, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory storing executable instructions, the processor configured to execute the instructions to;

initiate a backup of data in a datacenter, wherein the backup includes a number of backup jobs;

define a utilization threshold for each of a number of virtual tape libraries (VTLs) in the datacenter;

identify a number of slipped backup jobs of the backup jobs, wherein each of the number of slipped backup jobs is associated with one of the number of VTLs;

collect a number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs, wherein the collected number of storage statistics includes a check for a reclaim space flag and a VTL storage extensibility flag of each of the number of VTLs;

allocate storage for each of the number of slipped backup jobs via a VTL backup storage manager that analyzes the utilization threshold, the number of slipped backup jobs, and the number of storage statistics for each of the number of VTLs,

wherein to allocate the storage includes creation of a new VTL for at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the VTL corresponding to at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeds the defined utilization threshold, does not have a reclaim space flag, and does not have a VTL storage extensibility flag, and

wherein creation of the new VTL for the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs includes assignment of a new utilization threshold to the new VTL equal to the defined utilization threshold of the VTL corresponding to the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs; and

reschedule a particular one of the number of slipped backup jobs when the VTL corresponding to the particular one of the each of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeds the defined utilization threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs results from at least one of the number of VTLs associated with the at least one of the number of slipped backup jobs exceeding the defined utilization threshold.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the utilization threshold is defined according to a Service Level Agreement.