Abstract: Illustrative storage manager and media agent are enhanced to interoperate with deduplication appliances. Advantages are realized when making secondary and tertiary copies and also when restoring from a deduplication appliance. Tiered indexing minimizes how much data is retained and stored at media agents. Tiered indexing enables media agents to efficiently extract needed information from deduplication appliances to make tertiary copies and to restore backed up copies. Interoperability techniques include media agents generating separate data streams to the deduplication appliance. Each data stream carries a different kind of data, e.g., payload data, metadata content, or high-level index information. On initial backup, the media agent instructs the deduplication appliance to deduplicate the payload data stream but not the other data streams, thus intelligently applying resources to data most likely to benefit from deduplication.

Abstract: An improved information management system that implements a staging area or cache to temporarily store primary data in a native format before the primary data is converted into secondary copies in a secondary format is described herein. For example, the improved information management system can include various media agents that each include one or more high speed drives. When a client computing device provides primary data for conversion into secondary copies, the primary data can initially be stored in the native format in the high speed drive(s). If the client computing device then submits a request for the primary data, the media agent can simply retrieve the primary data from the high speed drive(s) and transmit the primary data to the client computing device. Because the primary data is already in the native format, no conversion operations are performed by the media agent, thereby reducing the restore delay.

Abstract: An information management system uses cloud storage resources store secondary copies of primary data created by client computing devices managed by a storage manager. Deduplication operations are performed on the secondary copies, which results in chunk metadata indices that allow for tracking and faster retrieval of the deduplicated secondary copies. The chunk metadata indices may reference data segments of the deduplicated secondary copies. The data segments may be stored in, and across, one or more sub-files. As the secondary copies are aged out from the cloud storage resources, data segments are identified as being orphaned or non-orphaned. Data segments that are orphaned are pruned to remove their corresponding sub-files from the cloud storage resources, where the sub-files are replaced with new sub-files that do not contain the orphaned data segments.

Abstract: An information management system implements a method for determining whether to initiate a failover of a storage manager in the system. Nodes in the system may be assigned as monitoring nodes configured to communicate with a storage manager. Furthermore, each monitoring node may be configured to transmit a status inquiry message to each other monitoring node, and each monitoring node may receive a status inquiry message from each other monitoring node. Each monitoring node may also generate a session message comprising status information, and a plurality of failover nodes may receive the generated session messages. A failover node may then determine whether a failover condition has occurred by applying a plurality of failover rules to the status information of the transmitted session message. Where the failover node determines that a failover condition has occurred, the failover node may activate an offline storage manager to replace the active storage manager.

Abstract: Multiple data paths may be available to a data management system for transferring data between a primary storage device and a secondary storage device. The data management system may be able to gain operational advantages by performing load balancing across the multiple data paths. The system may use application layer characteristics of the data for transferring from a primary storage to a backup storage during data backup operation, and correspondingly from a secondary or backup storage system to a primary storage system during restoration.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for backing up and restoring related backup data stored in different cloud storage tiers in a cloud storage environment. Backup data generated during a backup job is stored to different cloud storage tiers based on the type of data and a storage policy comprising designations of a first cloud storage tier and a second cloud storage tier. Backup metadata and index data is stored in the designated first cloud storage tier and backup payload data is stored in the designated second cloud storage tier. Designations of the storage tiers are based on the attributes associated with each tier of cloud storage. During restore, the backup payload data is recalled from the second storage tier into the first storage tier where it is used to restore to the destination client or customer.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for managing single instancing data. Using a single instance database and other constructs (e.g. sparse files), data density on archival media (e.g. magnetic tape) is improved, and the number of files per storage operation is reduced. According to one aspect of a method for managing single instancing data, for each storage operation, a chunk folder is created on a storage device that stores single instancing data. The chunk folder contains three files: 1) a file that contains data objects that have been single instanced; 2) a file that contains data objects that have not been eligible for single instancing; and 3) a metadata file used to track the location of data objects within the other files. A second storage operation subsequent to a first storage operation contains references to data objects in the chunk folder created by the first storage operation instead of the data objects themselves.

Abstract: Multiple data paths may be available to a data management system for transferring data between a primary storage device and a secondary storage device. The data management system may be able to gain operational advantages by performing load balancing across the multiple data paths. The system may use application layer characteristics of the data for transferring from a primary storage to a backup storage during data backup operation, and correspondingly from a secondary or backup storage system to a primary storage system during restoration.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for storing a variable number of instances of data objects (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or up to N?1 instances, where N is the number of instances of the data object included in primary data) in secondary storage across a data storage network. In some examples, a system for storing a variable number of instances of data objects includes, one or more computing devices storing a set of data objects and multiple storage devices distinct from the one or more computing devices. Each of the multiple storage devices is configured to store at least a single instance of a data object. The system also includes a database configured to store information associated with the data objects. This information includes substantially unique identifiers for the data objects and, for each of the data objects, a number of instances of the data object stored on the multiple storage devices.

Abstract: An illustrative data storage management system is aware that certain data storage resources for storing/serving primary data operate in a partnered configuration. Illustrative components of the data storage management system analyze the failover status of the partnered primary data storage resources to determine which is currently serving/storing primary data and/or snapshots targeted for backup. When detecting that a first partnered primary data storage resource has failed over to a second primary data storage resource, the example storage manager changes the assignment of backup resources that are pre-administered for the targeted data. Accordingly, the example storage manager assigns backup resources, including at least one media agent, that are associated with the second primary data storage resource, and which are “closer” thereto from a geography and/or network topology perspective, even if the pre-administered backup resources are available for backup.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for single instancing blocks of data in a data storage system. For example, the data storage system may include multiple computing devices (e.g., client computing devices) that store primary data. The data storage system may also include a secondary storage computing device, a single instance database, and one or more storage devices that store copies of the primary data (e.g., secondary copies, tertiary copies, etc.). The secondary storage computing device receives blocks of data from the computing devices and accesses the single instance database to determine whether the blocks of data are unique (meaning that no instances of the blocks of data are stored on the storage devices). If a block of data is unique, the single instance database stores it on a storage device. If not, the secondary storage computing device can avoid storing the block of data on the storage devices.

Abstract: A scalable approach is disclosed for processing auxiliary-copy jobs in a storage management system by using distributed media agent resources instead of a centralized storage manager. Enhanced media agents coordinate and control auxiliary-copy jobs and tap the storage manager to reserve data streams and provide job-specific metadata on demand. An enhanced storage manager may initially select a media agent as “coordinator” to coordinate auxiliary-copy jobs with any number of other media agents, which act as “controllers.” A coordinator media agent is generally responsible for obtaining data stream reservation information from the storage manager and assigning auxiliary-copy jobs to respective controller media agents, based on the components involved in the respective reserved data streams.

Abstract: An illustrative approach to managing snapshots streamlines how and when snapshots are generated in a storage management system, such that fewer snapshots may be generated without diminishing the scope of data protection. A novel unified-snapshot storage policy may govern snapshots for any number of subclients. A unified-snapshot job based on the unified-snapshot storage policy enables the illustrative storage management system to automatically discover relevant components and generate at most one snapshot per target logical unit number (“LUN”) in a storage array. Each snapshot may comprise the data of any number of subclients and/or clients in the storage management system. Accordingly, one unified-snapshot job may yield a minimum but sufficient number of snapshots comprising data of all subclients associated with the governing unified-snapshot storage policy. An enhanced storage manager may manage the unified-snapshot jobs.

Abstract: A distributed, deduplicated storage system according to certain embodiments is arranged in a parallel configuration including multiple deduplication nodes. Deduplicated data is distributed across the deduplication nodes. The deduplication nodes can be networked together and communicate with one another according using a light-weight, customized communication scheme (e.g., a scheme based on FTP or HTTP). In some cases, deduplication management information including deduplication signatures and/or other metadata is stored separately from the deduplicated data in deduplication management nodes, improving performance and scalability.

Abstract: Data storage operations, including content-indexing, containerized deduplication, and policy-driven storage, are performed within a cloud environment. The systems support a variety of clients and cloud storage sites that may connect to the system in a cloud environment that requires data transfer over wide area networks, such as the Internet, which may have appreciable latency and/or packet loss, using various network protocols, including HTTP and FTP. Methods are disclosed for content indexing data stored within a cloud environment to facilitate later searching, including collaborative searching. Methods are also disclosed for performing containerized deduplication to reduce the strain on a system namespace, effectuate cost savings, etc. Methods are disclosed for identifying suitable storage locations, including suitable cloud storage sites, for data files subject to a storage policy.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for single instancing blocks of data in a data storage system. For example, the data storage system may include multiple computing devices (e.g., client computing devices) that store primary data. The data storage system may also include a secondary storage computing device, a single instance database, and one or more storage devices that store copies of the primary data (e.g., secondary copies, tertiary copies, etc.). The secondary storage computing device receives blocks of data from the computing devices and accesses the single instance database to determine whether the blocks of data are unique (meaning that no instances of the blocks of data are stored on the storage devices). If a block of data is unique, the single instance database stores it on a storage device. If not, the secondary storage computing device can avoid storing the block of data on the storage devices.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein are used for restoring deduplicated backup data from cloud-based storage and from multi-node replicated files systems, and they also may be used in more traditional data storage technologies. Pre-restore steps include analysis of deduplication indexes to identify data segments that are stored consecutively on storage media. Reading data in aggregate runs of consecutively stored data segments reduces interactions with storage media that hosts the deduplicated data and speeds up retrieval. Parallel reads from multiple storage devices in multi-node replicated file systems also speed up retrieval. An illustrative enhanced media agent pre-fetches data (stored in deduplicated form) in anticipation of read requests that are expected in the restore operation.

Abstract: An information management system provides a data deduplication system that uses a primary table, a deduplication chunk table, and a chunk integrity table to ensure that a referenced deduplicated data block is only verified once during the data verification of a backup or other replication operation. The data deduplication system may reduce the computational and storage overhead associated with traditional data verification processes. The primary table, the deduplication chunk table, and the chunk integrity table, all of which may be stored in a deduplication database, can also ensure synchronization between the deduplication database and secondary storage devices.

Abstract: A distributed, deduplicated storage system according to certain embodiments is arranged in a parallel configuration including multiple deduplication nodes. Deduplicated data is distributed across the deduplication nodes. The deduplication nodes can be networked together and communicate with one another according using a light-weight, customized communication scheme (e.g., a scheme based on FTP or HTTP). In some cases, deduplication management information including deduplication signatures and/or other metadata is stored separately from the deduplicated data in deduplication management nodes, improving performance and scalability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for constructing a database in an information management system. The systems and methods may include using metadata stored in non-production storage devices to construct an information management system database. In some implementations the methods are used to consolidate multiple information management systems. In other implementations, the systems and methods are used for reviewing content of archived storage media.