Netapp, Inc.

Network Appliance, Inc.

Sahn Lam

Yinfung Fong

Peter Logan Smoot

Brian M Hackworth

Shane S Owara

James Hartwell Holl, Ii

Hemanth Pannem

Anawat Chankhunthod

Anawat Chanhunthod

Jim Holl

A method and an apparatus to increase conformance of a storage implementation of a data set to a storage policy are presented. In one embodiment, the method includes performing a conformance check of a data set state and an associated data management policy. The method includes identifying a set of tasks that can be performed to increase conformance of the data set state to the associated policy, and generating a task list using tasks from the set of tasks. The method further includes outputting an indication of the task list to a user and accepting from the user an approval of the task list before generating and executing a second task list.

Request processing for stateless conformance engine

This invention provides a system and method for managing backup and restore operations on a storage system, typically between source storage system and destination storage system using a backup management client that employs a version of the Network Data Management Protocol to interface with the destination file server and generate an 'index' of data structures (such as directories and files) from directly from scanning the trees of PCPIs stored on the destination. The management client includes a command line interface for entry of instructions by a user or application and a web-based user interface and allows the index to be displayed as a series of web pages on a graphical user interface. The index can be browsed and selected data structures can be restored to a source filer/file server as desired. All back-ups/PCPIs can be contemporaneously browsed, allowing greater flexibility in selecting a best backup image to restore.

System and method for indexing a backup using persistent consistency point images

An apparatus and a method to make data sets conform to data management policies are presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a conformance checker and a conformance engine. The conformance checker may be operable to compare a state of a data set against a data management policy associated with the data set to determine if the data set currently conforms to the data management policy. The conformance engine may then make the data set conform to the data management policy if the conformance checker determines that the data set currently violates the data management policy.

Apparatus and a method to make data sets conform to data management policies

A network management station manages multiple devices on a network, which may include storage appliances, caching appliances, and other devices. The network management station includes software that assists a network administrator by diagnosing a connectivity problem relating to a device on the network. To diagnose the connectivity problem, the software attempts to communicate with the device from the management station by separately using each of multiple communication protocols, including one or more device type-specific protocols. The software identifies possible causes for the connectivity problem based on the results of using the different protocols. The software generates a graphical user interface indicating the individual results of attempting to communicate with the device using the different protocols and the possible causes for the connectivity problem. Based on the information presented, the administrator can more effectively troubleshoot the connectivity problem.

Method and apparatus for diagnosing connectivity problems from a network management station

An application implemented on a server in a network of storage servers can be provided to manage the data replication relationships implemented between the storage servers of the network. In one embodiment, this server can be designated the manager server, and can include a network adapter to connect the manager server to a network, the network including a plurality of storage servers, the plurality of storage servers implementing a plurality of data replication relationships, and a storage facility to contain a data structure representing the plurality of data replication relationships to enable a user to centrally manage the plurality of data replication relationships.

Managing data replication relationships

An application implemented on a server in a network of storage servers can be provided to manage the data replication relationships implemented between the storage servers of the network. In one embodiment, this server can be designated the manager server, and can provide replication relationships to enable a user to centrally manage the plurality of data replication relationships. In one embodiment, the manager server includes a network adapter to connect the manager server to a network, a storage facility to contain a data structure configured to represent the plurality of data replication relationships, and a processor to automatically input the plurality of data replication relationships into the data structure, to automatically generate a plurality of replication policies, and to apply at least one of the plurality of replication policies to each data replication relationship.

Growing community of inventors

Daly City, CA, United States of America

Sahn Lam