Consolidated processing of storage-array commands by a snapshot-control media agent
First Claim
1. A system for consolidating communications of storage-array operational commands away from one or more client computing devices and using a distinct secondary storage computing device, wherein the system comprises:
- a client computing device comprising at least one processor and computer memory and executing one or more applications, one or more respective associated data agents, and a first media agent;
a storage array that comprises primary data directly accessible for read and write operations by the one or more applications on the client computing device;
a secondary storage computing device comprising at least one processor and computer memory and executing a second media agent,wherein the second media agent is configured to communicate with the first media agent on the client computing device, andwherein the second media agent comprises a plurality of command devices, and is further configured to manage the plurality of command devices for directly communicating operational commands to the storage array using respective command channels to the storage array;
wherein the first media agent lacks resources, including third-party libraries and command devices, for directly communicating the operational commands to the storage array and forwards the operational commands to the second media agent;
wherein the second media agent is further configured to provide indirect communications between the first media agent and the storage array by being configured to;
receive a first operational command that is directed at the storage array, wherein the first operational command has been forwarded from the first media agent to the second media agent,select a first command device from the plurality of command devices,transmit the first operational command to the storage array via a first command channel based on the selected first command device,receive an operational status from the storage array in response to the first operational command, andtransmit the operational status to the first media agent on the client computing device; and
wherein the system is configured to consolidate at least some communications of operational commands directed at the storage array, including the operational commands from the first media agent, by using the second media agent executing on the secondary storage computing device, which is distinct from the client computing device and is also distinct from the storage array.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A “snapshot-control media agent” (“snap-MA”) is configured on a secondary storage computing device that operates apart from client computing devices. A “forwarder” media agent operates on each client computing device that uses a storage array, yet lacks command channels to the storage array. The forwarder media agent forwards commands directed at the storage array to the snap-MA, which receives and processes commands directed at the storage array that were forwarded by the forwarder media agents. Responses from the storage array are transmitted to the respective forwarder media agent. The snap-MA pools storage-array-command devices to avoid capacity limitations in regard to communications channels at the storage array. The snap-MA operating in conjunction with the forwarder media agents enable the illustrative system to consolidate the communication of storage-array commands away from client computing devices and/or proxy media agent hosts and into the secondary storage computing device that hosts the snap-MA.
641 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for consolidating communications of storage-array operational commands away from one or more client computing devices and using a distinct secondary storage computing device, wherein the system comprises:
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a client computing device comprising at least one processor and computer memory and executing one or more applications, one or more respective associated data agents, and a first media agent; a storage array that comprises primary data directly accessible for read and write operations by the one or more applications on the client computing device; a secondary storage computing device comprising at least one processor and computer memory and executing a second media agent, wherein the second media agent is configured to communicate with the first media agent on the client computing device, and wherein the second media agent comprises a plurality of command devices, and is further configured to manage the plurality of command devices for directly communicating operational commands to the storage array using respective command channels to the storage array; wherein the first media agent lacks resources, including third-party libraries and command devices, for directly communicating the operational commands to the storage array and forwards the operational commands to the second media agent; wherein the second media agent is further configured to provide indirect communications between the first media agent and the storage array by being configured to; receive a first operational command that is directed at the storage array, wherein the first operational command has been forwarded from the first media agent to the second media agent, select a first command device from the plurality of command devices, transmit the first operational command to the storage array via a first command channel based on the selected first command device, receive an operational status from the storage array in response to the first operational command, and transmit the operational status to the first media agent on the client computing device; and wherein the system is configured to consolidate at least some communications of operational commands directed at the storage array, including the operational commands from the first media agent, by using the second media agent executing on the secondary storage computing device, which is distinct from the client computing device and is also distinct from the storage array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for consolidating storage-array command channels away from one or more client computing devices associated with a storage array and into a distinct media agent executing on a secondary storage computing device, the method comprising:
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forwarding, from a first media agent executing on a client computing device to a second media agent executing on a secondary storage computing device, an operational command directed at a storage array, wherein the first media agent lacks resources, including third-party libraries and command devices, for directly communicating the operational command to the storage array and forwards the operational command to the second media agent, and wherein the client computing device executes read and write operations directly from and to the storage array, respectively; receiving, by the second media agent, the operational command forwarded from the first media agent, wherein the second media agent is configured to maintain communications with the first media agent; transmitting the operational command, by the second media agent via a first command channel, to the storage array, wherein the first command channel is based on one of a plurality of command devices configured in and controlled by the second media agent for directly communicating operational commands to the storage array; executing, by the storage array, an operation within the storage array in response to the operational command from the second media agent; receiving, by the second media agent, an operational status from the storage array based on the operation within the storage array; transmitting, by the second media agent to the first media agent, the operational status; and wherein the second media agent provides indirect communications between the first media agent and the storage array and consolidates command channels directed at the storage array away from the client computing device, based at least in part on the forwarding performed by the first media agent and further based on using one or more of the plurality of command devices configured in the second media agent. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification