Cloud enabled filesystems provided by an agent which interfaces with a file system on a data source device

• US 9,135,116 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Balasubramanian, Shankar, Ramachandran, Srinivasan, Raj, Anand, Visweswaraiah, Deepak, Degwekar, Anil
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Phuong Thao
• Application Number:
  US13/248,389
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 707/827
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1448 Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Information is managed by receiving at a data source device, from an application running on a data source device, an instruction associated with a file system object. It is determined at the data source device if the instruction is able to be satisfied by a file system running on the data source device. If it is determined that the instruction is not able to be satisfied by the file system, the instruction is performed without the services of the file system; the application is unaware that the file system object is managed by an entity other than the file system running on the data source device.

Claims

1. A method of managing information, comprising:

using a data manager to migrate content associated with a backup-related file system object from a data source device to a remote storage device such that after the migration;

(1) the content associated with the backup-related file system object is stored on the remote storage device and not on the data source device and (2) metadata associated with the backup-related file system object is stored at least by the data manager on the data source device and not by a file system below the data manager on the data source device, wherein the metadata stored by the data manager includes a backup identifier;

receiving, from an application running on the data source device, an instruction that requires access to at least one of the metadata and the content associated with the backup-related file system object in order to be satisfied;

determining, at the data manager, that the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object is located in the data manager;

determining, at the data manager, that the instruction is a metadata-only type of instruction that requires access to only the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object in order to be satisfied; and

performing the instruction, including by accessing, in the data manager, the backup identifier associated with the backup-related file system object, wherein;

(1) the instruction is satisfied without requiring services of the file system below the data manager and (2) the instruction is satisfied without requiring services of the remote storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object includes one or more of the following:

a name associated with the backup-related file system object, a size associated with the backup-related file system object, a creator associated with the backup-related file system object, a creation timestamp associated with the backup-related file system object, a modification timestamp associated with the backup-related file system object or a permission associated with the backup-related file system object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data manager is further configured to:

act as an intermediary between the application and the file system running on the data source device;

store a catalog comprising metadata and content locations that correspond to a plurality of file system objects; and

determine, based at least in part on the catalog, the respective locations of the metadata and the content associated with the backup-related file system object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing the data manager on the data source device, including by:

severing a connection between an application port associated with the application running on the data source device and a file system port associated with the file system running on the data source device;

creating a first connection between the application port and a first port associated with the data manager; and

creating a second connection between the file system port and a second port associated with the data manager.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup identifier stored by the data manager includes one or more of the following:

a backup version or a backup timestamp.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the application includes a backup and restore application, and

the instruction includes an instruction associated with displaying identifying information associated one or more backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration, wherein the instruction does not require access to the contents of the backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration in order to be satisfied.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

performing the instruction includes returning a backup time to the backup and restore application; and

the backup time is displayed in a user interface associated with displaying backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to initially display identifying information for a predefined number of backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user interface is further configured to display a button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of one or more file system objects that are available for restoration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface is further configured to display:

(1) a first button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of a first file system object that are available for restoration and (2) a second button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of a second file system object that are available for restoration.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the application includes a block-based backup and restore application; and

the content associated with the backup-related file system object is stored on the remote storage device at block level.

12. A system for managing information, comprising a data source device and a data manager running on the data source device, wherein the data manager is configured to:

migrate content associated with a backup-related file system object from the data source device to a remote storage device such that after the migration;

(1) the content associated with the backup-related file system object is stored on the remote storage device and not on the data source device and (2) metadata associated with the backup-related file system object is stored at least by the data manager on the data source device and not by a file system below the data manager on the data source device, wherein the metadata stored by the data manager includes a backup identifier;

receive, from an application running on the data source device, an instruction that requires access to at least one of the metadata and the content associated with the backup-related file system object in order to be satisfied;

determine that the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object is located in the data manager;

determine that the instruction is a metadata-only type of instruction that requires access to only the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object in order to be satisfied; and

perform the instruction, including by accessing the backup identifier associated with the backup-related file system object, wherein;

(1) the instruction is satisfied without requiring services of the file system below the data manager and (2) the instruction is satisfied without requiring services of the remote storage device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data manager is further configured to:

act as an intermediary between the application and the file system running on the data source device;

store a catalog comprising metadata and content locations that correspond to a plurality of file system objects; and

determine, based at least in part on the catalog, the respective locations of the metadata and the content associated with the backup-related file system object.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the data manager is installed on the data source device at least in part by:

severing a connection between an application port associated with the application running on the data source device and a file system port associated with the file system running on the data source device;

creating a first connection between the application port and a first port associated with the data manager; and

creating a second connection between the file system port and a second port associated with the data manager.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the backup identifier stored by the data manager includes one or more of the following:

a backup version or a backup timestamp.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the application includes a backup and restore application, and

the instruction includes an instruction associated with displaying identifying information associated one or more backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration, wherein the instruction does not require access to the contents of the backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration in order to be satisfied.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the data manager is configured to perform the instruction, including by returning a backup time to the backup and restore application; and

the backup time is displayed in a user interface associated with displaying backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface is configured to initially display identifying information for a predefined number of backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface is further configured to display a button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of one or more file system objects that are available for restoration.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is further configured to display:

(1) a first button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of a first file system object that are available for restoration and (2) a second button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of a second file system object that are available for restoration.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the application includes a block-based backup and restore application; and

the content associated with the backup-related file system object is stored on the remote storage device at block level.

22. A computer program product for managing information, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions for:

migrating content associated with a backup-related file system object from a data source device to a remote storage device such that after the migration;

(1) the content associated with the backup-related file system object is stored on the remote storage device and not on the data source device and (2) metadata associated with the backup-related file system object is stored at least by a data manager on the data source device and not by a file system below the data manager on the data source device, wherein the metadata stored by the data manager includes a backup identifier;

receiving, from an application running on the data source device, an instruction that requires access to at least one of the metadata and the content associated with the backup-related file system object in order to be satisfied;

determining, at the data manager, that the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object is located in the data manager;

determining, at the data manager, that the instruction is a metadata-only type of instruction that requires access to only the metadata associated with the backup-related file system object in order to be satisfied; and

performing the instruction, including by accessing, in the data manager, the backup identifier associated with the backup-related file system object, wherein;

(1) the instruction is satisfied without requiring services of the file system below the data manager and (2) the instruction is satisfied without requiring services of the remote storage device.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the data manager is further configured to:

act as an intermediary between the application and the file system running on the data source device;

store a catalog comprising metadata and content locations that correspond to a plurality of file system objects; and

determine, based at least in part on the catalog, the respective locations of the metadata and the content associated with the backup-related file system object.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising computer instructions for installing the data manager on the data source device, including by:

severing a connection between an application port associated with the application running on the data source device and a file system port associated with the file system running on the data source device;

creating a first connection between the application port and a first port associated with the data manager; and

creating a second connection between the file system port and a second port associated with the data manager.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the backup identifier stored by the data manager includes one or more of the following:

a backup version or a backup timestamp.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein:

the application includes a backup and restore application, and

the instruction includes an instruction associated with displaying identifying information associated one or more backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration, wherein the instruction does not require access to the contents of the backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration in order to be satisfied.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein:

the computer instructions for performing the instruction include computer instructions for returning a backup time to the backup and restore application; and

the backup time is displayed in a user interface associated with displaying backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the user interface is configured to initially display identifying information for a predefined number of backed up copies of file system objects that are available for restoration.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the user interface is further configured to display a button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of one or more file system objects that are available for restoration.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the user interface is further configured to display:

(1) a first button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of a first file system object that are available for restoration and (2) a second button associated with displaying identifying information for one or more additional backed up copies of a second file system object that are available for restoration.

31. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein:

the application includes a block-based backup and restore application; and

the content associated with the backup-related file system object is stored on the remote storage device at block level.