AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION OF STORAGE REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS FOR USE IN SELLING DATA STORAGE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

摘要

Systems and methods for demonstrating a replacement information management software for a computing system. The methods may include determining if existing information management software is installed in the computing system. The methods may include identifying computing devices of the computing system using information from the existing information management software. The methods may include simulating the replacement information management software with characteristics of the identified computing devices to enable a user to experience the replacement information management software prior to committing to installing the replacement information management software in the computing system. The methods may include automatically installing the replacement information management software. Other implementations are disclosed.

主权项

1. At least one tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions for a discovery agent which, when executed by at least one data processing device, perform a method of demonstrating new data storage and recovery software for use on a computing system, wherein the computing system includes multiple computing devices networked together, wherein one of the multiple computing devices is a network management computing device, the method comprising:
determining, with the discovery agent that is installed on the network management computing device, whether existing data storage and recovery software is installed in the computing system,
wherein the existing data storage and recovery software is manufactured by a competitor of a manufacturer of the new data storage and recovery software,wherein the determining includes:
searching directories of a file system of the network management computing device for a file name or folder name of the existing data storage and recovery software that identifies the competitor manufacturer of the existing data storage and recovery software, orreceiving affirmation of installation of the existing data storage and recovery software from a user via a user interface; if the discovery agent determines that the existing data storage and recovery software is installed in the computing system, identifying the computing devices of the computing system based on a system content file associated with the existing data storage and recovery software,
wherein identifying the computing devices includes:
locating the system content file in the file system of the network management computing device,
wherein locating includes searching one or more predetermined paths in the file system of the network computing device, wherein the predetermined paths are hardcoded into the discovery agent, andextracting characteristics of the computing devices from system content file; transmitting, with the discovery agent, the characteristics of the computing devices to a remote computing device to enable the remote computing device to provide a simulation to the user of the new data storage and recovery software,
wherein the simulation of the new data storage and recovery software incorporates the characteristics of the computing devices in the simulation to enable the user to test features of the new data storage and recovery software on simulated versions of the computing devices,wherein the remote computing device is external to the computing system; providing, with the discovery agent, a list of software licenses based on the identified computing devices of the computing system,
wherein the software licenses are licenses to individual software components of the new data storage and recovery software,wherein the list of the software licenses includes prices for the software licenses; and installing, with the discovery agent that is installed on the network management computing device, the individual software components onto the computing devices to enable operation of the new data storage and recovery software within the computing system.