Systems and methods for performing replication copy storage operations

• US 8,935,210 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• 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:
  US14/261,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20140236900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 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 indication that a storage operation should be performed on a first set of data stored on a first storage volume;

determining with at least computer hardware that a replication copy is available on a second storage volume, the replication copy comprises a second set of data that is a copy of at least a portion of the first set of data;

automatically selecting with the computer hardware, the replication copy to perform 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

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 second set of data by creating a copy of the first set of data, wherein the first set of data comprises production data associated with a particular software application.

5. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising monitoring changes to the first set of data with a filter driver.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the second set of data comprises processing a log file containing a least a portion of the changes monitored by a 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 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:

a first storage device that stores a first set of data;

a second storage device that stores a replication copy, the replication copy comprises a second set of data that is a copy of at least a portion of the first set of data;

a storage manager comprising at least computer hardware that determines whether a replication copy is available on a second storage volume;

wherein the storage manager directs the automatic selection of the replication copy to perform of the storage operation

wherein the storage manager directs performance of 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

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 storage manager further directs an update to 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 storage manager generates the second set of data by creating a copy of the first set of data, wherein the first set of data comprises production data associated with a particular software application.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage manager further monitors changes to the first set of data with a filter driver.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage manager further directs the generation of the second set of data by processing a log file containing a least a portion of the changes monitored by a filter driver.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage manager further directs generation of the replication copy via a snapshot operation.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage manager further directs generation of the replication copy via a mirroring operation.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage manager directs the performance of 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.