Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting virtual machines is provided. One method includes identifying a plurality of volumes of a primary storage system for storing a plurality of data containers of a virtual machine (“VM”); generating a consistency group (“CG”) snapshot of the plurality of volumes; associating a single instance storage clone of each data container of the VM from the CG snapshot to an active file system of the primary storage system; and generating metadata for representing a VM backup as a set having each of the single instance storage clone of each data container.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing storage services in a networked environment are provided. A management device interfaces with a plurality of management layers that communicates with a plurality of application plugins executed by a plurality of computing devices. Each application plugin is associated with an application for providing storage services for stored objects managed by a storage system. A same request and response format is used by the management device to obtain information from the plurality of management layers regarding storage space used by the plurality of applications for storing the stored objects and the management device maintains storage space information as a storage resource object for virtual storage resources and physical storage resources used by the plurality of applications for storing the stored objects.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a networked storage environment are provided. For example, a method includes interfacing by a management device with a plurality of management layers that communicate with a plurality of application plugins executed by a plurality of computing devices, where each application plugin is associated with an application for providing storage services for stored objects managed by a storage system for the plurality of applications; for managing the plurality of computing devices, presenting selectable options for adding an application plugin for a computing device, configuring the application plugin, migrating the application plugin from one location to another and placing the computing device in a maintenance mode; and providing a summary for a plurality of storage service operations and a data protection summary.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a networked storage environment are provided. For example, a method includes interfacing by a management device with a plurality of management layers that communicate with a plurality of application plugins executed by a plurality of computing devices, where each application plugin is associated with an application for providing storage services for stored objects managed by a storage system for the plurality of applications; for managing the plurality of computing devices, presenting selectable options for adding an application plugin for a computing device, configuring the application plugin, migrating the application plugin from one location to another and placing the computing device in a maintenance mode; and providing a summary for a plurality of storage service operations and a data protection summary.

Abstract: Methods and systems for role based access control (RBAC)) by a management device are provided. The management device communicates with a plurality of application plugins executed by one or more host computing devices through a management interface layer for managing backup, restore and clone operations involving objects that are stored on behalf of the plurality of applications by a storage system. The plurality of applications and the storage system have different RBAC requirements. The management device generates a token and the same token is used for RBAC across any of the applications and the storage system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing storage services in a networked environment are provided. A management device interfaces with a plurality of management layers that communicates with a plurality of application plugins executed by a plurality of computing devices. Each application plugin is associated with an application for providing storage services for stored objects managed by a storage system. A same request and response format is used by the management device to obtain information from the plurality of management layers regarding storage space used by the plurality of applications for storing the stored objects and the management device maintains storage space information as a storage resource object for virtual storage resources and physical storage resources used by the plurality of applications for storing the stored objects.