Symantec Operating Corporation

Symantec Corporation

Shelley A Schmokel

Steven Kappel

Guido Westenberg

Branka Rakic

Peter A Barber

Julianne M Urban

Linda Cerni

Thomas G Clifford

Nancy L Bayer

Richard L Harrison

Weibao Wu

James P Ohr

Stephan Gipp

Timothy J Stevens

Girish Sureshrao Jorapurkar

Donald C Peterson

Various systems and methods for seeding a storage device. For example, a method involves accessing a policy that identifies a number of clients. The method then involves selecting a most recent backup image for each of the clients and copying the most recent backup images from a source storage device to a target storage device. Once a most recent backup image has been copied from the source storage device to the target storage device for each of the clients, the method switches a destination value in the policy from the source storage device to the target storage device.

Backup policy migration and image duplication

Various techniques for coordinating the resource allocation and management capabilities of a backup application with the power saving features provided by a storage array are disclosed. One method involves accessing power management information associated with a logical storage unit (LSU) and image property information that indicates a future pattern of access to a backup image. The method also involves selecting the LSU, based upon both the power management information and the image property information, and then causing the backup image to be written to the LSU. Another method, performed by a backup module, involves receiving power management information associated with a storage array, selecting a logical storage unit (LSU) implemented on the storage array, based upon the power management information, and performing a backup storage management operation on the LSU, in response to selecting the LSU.

Backup application coordination with storage array power saving features

In one embodiment, a method is contemplated. A first parameterization is generated, which describes a desired result in at least a first dimension of a plurality of dimensions of a protection system. The first parameterization is evaluated over a plurality of parameterizations. Each of the plurality of parameterizations corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of instances of a second dimension of the plurality of dimensions. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that implement the method and a system implementing the method are also contemplated.

Parameterization of dimensions of protection systems and uses thereof

In some embodiments, a method is provided and a computer accessible medium comprising instructions which, when executed, implement the method is also provided. A recovery time for recovery of at least one asset is estimated responsive to at least one metric represented in metric data. The metric data is accumulated prior to the estimation. In various embodiments, data protection operations may include one or more of asset copy operations, recovery operations, etc. The estimated recovery time may be reported to a user. In other embodiments, metric data may be used to validate recoverability. In still other embodiments, recovery metrics may be calculated and displayed to the user along with corresponding recovery targets and objectives.

Estimation of recovery time, validation of recoverability, and decision support using recovery metrics, targets, and objectives

In one embodiment, a computer accessible medium stores a plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed: track dependencies among a plurality of assets; and responsive to an identification of an asset for potential recovery (the 'selected asset'), identify an asset dependency set corresponding to the selected asset. The asset dependency set comprises at least a subset of the plurality of assets, wherein each asset in the subset has a dependency with the selected asset. In some embodiments, one or more of the following may be provided: tracking asset dependencies and presenting the asset dependency set to the user; pruning the asset dependency set to a recovery set identifying the asset dependency set; generating the recovery order (optionally optimized); initiating the recovery according to the recovery order; performing recovery steps; generating the recovery plan and/or executing recovery plans.

Using asset dependencies to identify the recovery set and optionally automate and/or optimize the recovery

A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for sharing non-distributed, random-access storage resources among a plurality of computer systems. A first backup or restore operation may be initiated. In response to initiation of the first backup or restore operation, a volume of a random-access storage device may be automatically mounted at a first computer system. The random-access storage device may be coupled to the first computer system by a network, and the volume may store a non-distributed file system. The first backup or restore operation may be completed by transmitting a first set of data between the random-access storage device and the first computer system. In response to completion of the first backup or restore operation, the volume of the random-access storage device may be automatically unmounted at the first computer system.

Automatically mounting and unmounting a volume during a backup or restore operation

In one embodiment, a method is contemplated. The method includes exposing at least three dimensions of a protection system to a user. The three dimensions are interrelated. The method further includes receiving user input indicating a modification in a first dimension of the at least three dimensions; and determining an effect of the modification in each other dimension of the at least three dimensions. A computer accessible medium comprising a plurality of instructions which, when executed, implement the method and a system implementing the method are also contemplated.

Conveying causal relationships between at least three dimensions of recovery management

In one embodiment, a recovery manager may define a plurality of recovery target sets. Each recovery target set comprises a recovery point target, a recovery time target, and at least one other property. The recovery manager also defines a plurality of recovery classes. Each recovery class comprises at least one recovery target set of the plurality of recovery target sets. Each recovery class describes recovery requirements over an asset state life cycle. The recovery manager applies a first recovery class of the plurality of recovery classes to a first asset dependent on an importance of the first asset to an owner of the first asset. In some cases, the first recovery class and/or other recovery classes of the plurality of recovery classes may each be applied to multiple assets. In another embodiment, a recovery manager defines one or more recovery target sets to be applied to one or more assets and saves the one or more recovery target sets. In some embodiments, recovery classes are also saved.

Growing community of inventors

Prior Lake, MN, United States of America

Shelley A Schmokel