Abstract: Deleting objects in a computing system. Information management can be used to provide disposition services including the deletion of selected objects. The categorization process of information management can also be used to assign categories to objects such that an entity understands what the objects are. Understanding what the objects are may include the application of logic, including user-defined logic, to examine the objects. The results of the logic can then be used to assign categories to the objects. The policies of a user, which often define how objects should be treated are implemented by mapping the categories to the appropriate data disposition services. Once the specific disposition services, which include file deletion, are known, a workflow may be initiated to provide a period of review prior to physical deletion of the objects from the computing environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods of classifying structured and/or unstructured data. Hierarchical categorization is used when evaluating and providing data services. For instance, service level objectives may contain sub-levels associated with additional service level objectives. This hierarchal system enables an entity to create a more efficient structure for managing and mapping service level objectives to the various services offered by a data center or by service providers associated with a network. Higher service level objectives are groupings of sub service level objectives. Decisions for each data object can be made independently and the hierarchical arrangement enables conflicting service levels to be resolved. An entity can adequately categorize its data, thereby allowing the entity to better maintain and service the data according to its needs using an information management system.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning service level objectives to data objects stored within a computer system. The computer system includes an information management server for providing customized services to data objects residing in the computer system. One exemplary method identifies a data object, such as a file, folder, database, and the like, that has been categorized according to at least one property associated with the data object. The method also identifies service level objectives that are available within the computer system. Service level objectives may include any type of service area or service level that can be provided to a data object. The data object is then associated with one or more of the service level objectives for requesting that the services associated with the one or more service level objectives be provided to the data object.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a service provider capable of providing service level objectives for a data object stored within a computer system. The computer system includes an information management service for providing customized services to data objects residing in the computer system. One exemplary method identifies a data object such as a file, folder or database that is associated with service level objectives. Service level objectives may include services that can be provided to the data object. The method also identifies at least one service provider located within the computer system. An information management service request is sent to the service providers containing the service level objectives associated with the data object. Responses are then received from the service providers including which of the service level objectives the service providers are capable of providing to the data object.

Abstract: A method and system for providing data indexing as a customizable service within an information management system. One exemplary method collects information about data objects in a computer system and maps each of the data objects to a service level objective for defining a level of data indexing to be applied to the data objects. The level of data indexing may define whether or not a file will be indexed, and to what extent the file will be indexed. Then, the method orchestrates the data indexing according to the service level objective of each of the data objects. The present invention allows a user to customize data indexing on a file by file basis so that only those files in need of indexing are indexed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a data migration in a clustered computer system. In one aspect, the availability of the data being migrated is maintained during the migration. In another aspect, a data set is migrated by a transfer utility in one of the hosts in the cluster, and in response to a failure of the host, the migration is resumed without restarting from the beginning point of the data set. In a further embodiment, the hosts in the cluster have agents associated therewith to manage the data migration, and prior to taking at least one action associated with the data migration, the agents coordinate to ensure that the hosts in the cluster are prepared to have the at least one action taken.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing information management services to data objects at both global and local levels. The computer system includes an information management server for providing customized services to the data objects. One exemplary method identifies data objects that have been divided into logical groups within a computer system. A first and second set of information management rules are also identified, where the first set of information management rules has been associated with one of the logical groups. The first set of information management rules is applied to the data objects located within the logical group associated with the first set of information management rules, and the second set of information management rules is applied to all of the data objects in all of the logical groups. The second set of information management rules may include global service areas and levels that are offered by the information management server.

Abstract: Providing information management in a networked environment. Information management provides services such as data protection, backup, retention, compliance, etc., by classifying the objects and/or infrastructure of an entity according to its value to the entity. Information management begins by discovering the data in a network and by discovering the servers and services operating in a network. Next, the data is classified according to rules that can be set by the entity, by the line of business within the entity, by regulation, and the like. Often, classification includes the collection and/or generation of metadata. After the data is classified, service level objectives can be identified and mapped to service levels. After service levels are selected, the corresponding actions can be orchestrated such that the objects of the entity received the selected services in the service level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a migration of a data set from at least one first storage location to at least one second storage location, wherein read requests to the data set from at least one application program executing on a computer system initially are serviced from the at least one first storage location. The data set is copied from the at least one first storage location to the at least one second storage location, and then at least one aspect of the computer system is modified so that read requests to the data set are serviced from the at least one second storage location to achieve the migration. In one embodiment, the migration is subsequently undone by modifying the at least one aspect of the computer system so that read requests to the data set are again serviced from the at least one first storage location. In another embodiment, after the migration is performed, a determination is made as to whether to finalize the migration.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a data migration in a clustered computer system. In one aspect, the availability of the data being migrated is maintained during the migration. In another aspect, a data set is migrated by a transfer utility in one of the hosts in the cluster, and in response to a failure of the host, the migration is resumed without restarting from the beginning point of the data set. In a further embodiment, the hosts in the cluster have agents associated therewith to manage the data migration, and prior to taking at least one action associated with the data migration, the agents coordinate to ensure that the hosts in the cluster are prepared to have the at least one action taken.