Modular backup and retrieval system used in conjunction with a storage area network

摘要

A modular computer storage system and method is provided for managing and directing data archiving functions, which is scalable and comprehends various storage media as well as diverse operating systems on a plurality of client devices. A client component is associated with one or more client devices for generating archival request. A file processor directs one or more storage devices, through one or more media components, which control the actual physical level backup on various storage devices. Each media component creates a library indexing system for locating stored data. A management component coordinates the archival functions between the various client components and the file processor, including setting scheduling policies, aging policies, index pruning policies, drive cleaning policies, configuration information, and keeping track of running and waiting jobs.

主权项

1. A system for directing storage of data in a computer network, the system comprising:
at least a first client computing device configured to communicate with a first network comprising a local area network wherein first file-based backup data is transferred as files in a first file-based format on the local area network to at least a first storage device with a first protocol; at least a second client computing device configured to communicate with a second network comprising a storage area network, wherein second block-based backup data is transferred at least as block writes in a second block-based format on the storage area network to at least a second storage device, wherein the second block-based format is not file based with a second protocol that is different than the first protocol; a file processor comprising computer hardware, the file processor configured to communicate with the first client computing device with the first network comprising the local area network, and the second client computing device with the second network comprising the storage area network,
wherein the file processor is configured to maintain a file-based network file system for the first file-based backup data transferred as files in the first file-based format from the first client computing to the first storage device through the first network with the first protocol;wherein the file processor is further configured to maintain the file-based network file system for the second block-based backup data transferred as block writes in the second block-based format from the second client computing device to the second storage device through the second network with the second protocol,wherein the file processor determines files associated with the second block-based backup data based at least in part on the first file-based backup data to generate a centralized file-based network file system that includes both the files in the first file-based backup data and the files associated with the second block-based backup data to present a centralized file-based view of both the first file-based backup data and the second block-based backup data to both the first and second client computers wherein actions comprising at least one of opening, closing reading and writing by the file processor is transparent to both the first and second client computing devices; and a media component executing in one or more computer processors configured to communicate with the first client computing device with the first network comprising the local area network and the second client computing device with the second network comprising the storage area network, the media component further configured to communicate with the network file system associated with the file processor,
wherein the media component in response to storage operations is configured to maintain an index of the first file-based backup data transferred as the files by the first network and further maintains the index for the second block-based backup data transferred as the block writes with the second network, wherein the index comprises the first file-based backup data and the second block-based backup data;wherein the media component uses the index to process requests for the first file-based backup data; andwherein the media component uses the index to process requests for the second block-based backup data.