Offline messaging between a repository storage operation cell and remote storage operation cells via an intermediary media agent
First Claim
1. An offline messaging system for use in a data storage environment, wherein the data storage environment includes a first storage manager and a second storage manager, the system comprising:
- at least one processor; and
an intermediary media agent that is configured to communicate with both the first storage manager and the second storage manager,wherein the first storage manager manages a remote storage operation cell that performs storage management operations when out of communication with the second storage manager,wherein the second storage manager manages a second storage operation cell that is distinct from the remote storage operation cell, and further wherein the second storage manager is a repository of information about storage management operations, which are managed and reported by the first storage manager in regard to the remote storage operation cell, andwherein the first storage manager and the second storage manager communicate with each other via the intermediary media agent; and
wherein the intermediary media agent is further configured to;
receive messages from the second storage manager, wherein the messages are directed to the first storage manager,process one or more of the received messages, at least in part when the intermediary media agent is out of communication with the first storage manager, into one or more processed messages prior to transmission to the first storage manager,when in communication with the first storage manager, transmit the one or more processed messages to the first storage manager, andtransmit to the second storage manager one or more messages received from the first storage manager,wherein at least one of the one or more messages received from the first storage manager comprises metadata about one or more storage management operations that occurred under the management of the first storage manager in the remote storage operation cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Offline messaging between a repository storage operation cell and one or more mobile/remote storage operation cells is disclosed. The repository cell is managed by a repository storage manager that communicates to and from the remote cell via a specially-configured media agent. The illustrative intermediary media agent is configured to: queue messages directed to the remote cell, process them according to applicable parameters (e.g., time-to-live constraints, updates, cancellations, etc.), and transmit the processed messages to the remote cell when connectivity is available. The intermediary media agent also relays messages from the remote cell to the repository, including responses by the remote to the processed messages received from the repository via the intermediary media agent.
106 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An offline messaging system for use in a data storage environment, wherein the data storage environment includes a first storage manager and a second storage manager, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; and an intermediary media agent that is configured to communicate with both the first storage manager and the second storage manager, wherein the first storage manager manages a remote storage operation cell that performs storage management operations when out of communication with the second storage manager, wherein the second storage manager manages a second storage operation cell that is distinct from the remote storage operation cell, and further wherein the second storage manager is a repository of information about storage management operations, which are managed and reported by the first storage manager in regard to the remote storage operation cell, and wherein the first storage manager and the second storage manager communicate with each other via the intermediary media agent; and wherein the intermediary media agent is further configured to; receive messages from the second storage manager, wherein the messages are directed to the first storage manager, process one or more of the received messages, at least in part when the intermediary media agent is out of communication with the first storage manager, into one or more processed messages prior to transmission to the first storage manager, when in communication with the first storage manager, transmit the one or more processed messages to the first storage manager, and transmit to the second storage manager one or more messages received from the first storage manager, wherein at least one of the one or more messages received from the first storage manager comprises metadata about one or more storage management operations that occurred under the management of the first storage manager in the remote storage operation cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-readable medium, excluding transitory propagating signals, storing instructions that, when executed by at least one secondary storage computing device, cause the secondary storage computing device to perform operations that comprise:
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receive messages from a second storage manager, wherein the messages are directed to a first storage manager that manages a remote storage operation cell that performs storage management operations when out of communication with the second storage manager, process one or more of the received messages, at least in part when the secondary storage computing device is out of communication with the first storage manager, into one or more processed messages prior to transmission to the first storage manager, and when in communication with the first storage manager, transmit the one or more processed messages to the first storage manager; wherein the stored instructions define an intermediary media agent as between the first storage manager and the second storage manager; and wherein the second storage manager manages a second storage operation cell that is distinct from the remote storage operation cell, and further wherein the second storage manager is a repository of information about the storage management operations, which are managed and reported by the first storage manager in regard to the remote storage operation cell, and wherein the first storage manager and the second storage manager do not directly communicate and communicate with each other via the intermediary media agent. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An offline messaging system comprising:
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a secondary storage computing device that is configured to perform as an intermediary media agent between a first storage manager and a second storage manager, wherein the first storage manager manages a remote storage operation cell that performs storage management operations when out of communication with the second storage manager, and wherein the intermediary media agent is configured to; receive messages from the second storage manager, wherein the messages are directed to the first storage manager, process the received messages into one or more processed messages prior to transmission to the first storage manager, and when in communication with the first storage manager, transmit the one or more processed messages to the first storage manager; wherein the second storage manager manages a second storage operation cell that is distinct from the remote storage operation cell, and further wherein the second storage manager is a repository of information about the storage management operations, which are managed and reported by the first storage manager in regard to the remote storage operation cell; and wherein the first storage manager and the second storage manager do not directly communicate and communicate with each other via the intermediary media agent. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method associated with an intermediary media agent, the method comprising:
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when the intermediary media agent is out of communication with a remote storage manager that manages a remote storage operation cell, transmitting a second message, by the intermediary media agent, to a repository storage manager that manages a repository storage operation cell that is distinct from the remote storage operation cell, wherein the second message indicates a communications failure to the remote storage manager in response to a first message received by the intermediary media agent from the repository storage manager, wherein the first message is directed to the remote storage manager, wherein the remote storage operation cell performs storage management operations when out of communication with the repository storage manager, wherein the repository storage manager stores information about storage management operations, which are managed and reported by the remote storage manager in regard to the remote storage operation cell, and wherein the remote storage manager and the repository storage manager do not directly communicate and communicate with each other via the intermediary media agent; queuing, by the intermediary media agent, a first plurality of messages directed to the remote storage manager that are received from the repository storage manager; processing, by the intermediary media agent, a second plurality of queued messages, wherein the processing results in one or more processed messages to be transmitted to the remote storage manager when the intermediary media agent is in communication with the remote storage manager; receiving, by the intermediary media agent, a third plurality of messages from the remote storage manager that are directed to the repository storage manager; and applying, by the intermediary media agent, one or more security measures to the third plurality of messages received from the remote storage manager, wherein the applying results in one or more secure messages to be transmitted to the repository storage manager when the intermediary media agent is in communication with the repository storage manager. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification