Abstract: A data storage system can scan one or more information stores of primary storage and analyze the metadata of files stored in the one or more information stores of primary storage to identify multiple, possibly relevant, secondary copy operations that can be performed on the files. The storage system can also identify primary storage usage information of each file during the scan and use that information to generate reports regarding the usage of the primary storage.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, a method of creating customized bootable images for client computing devices in an information management system can include: creating a backup copy of each of a plurality of client computing devices, including a first client computing device; subsequent to receiving a request to restore the first client computing device to the state at a first time, creating a customized bootable image that is configured to directly restore the first client computing device to the state at the first time, wherein the customized bootable image includes system state specific to the first client computing device at the first time and one or more drivers associated with hardware existing at time of restore on a computing device to be rebooted; and rebooting the computing device to the state of the first client computing device at the first time from the customized bootable image.

Abstract: The illustrative storage management system uses snapshot technologies and performs block-level analysis thereof and to synthesize full backups of a database, regardless of the database management system (DBMS) and content of the database and without involving native DBMS utilities. Synthetic full copies are created efficiently and use network transport resources sparingly. Successive snapshots of the database may be hardware snapshots and/or software snapshots. The illustrative storage management system tracks which data blocks in the database change over time after a baseline full copy is saved to secondary storage. Only the changed blocks are subsequently moved to secondary storage as incremental backups and are indexed for future reference. A synthetic full backup of the database, at a given point in time, may be created by synthesizing the original full backup with changed blocks from any number of later incremental backups.

Abstract: A data storage system according to certain aspects can share a single snapshot for multiple applications and/or agents. For example, the data storage system can receive snapshot commands from multiple applications and/or agents, and can group them for a single snapshot (e.g., based on time of receipt of the snapshot commands). Data associated with the multiple applications and/or agents may reside on a single LUN or volume. The data storage system can take a single snapshot of the LUN or volume, and generate metadata regarding which portion of the snapshot is related to which application. The single snapshot can be stored in one or more secondary storage devices. The single snapshot may be partitioned into portions relating to different applications and stored separately.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, a system may include a computing device configured to: intercept a request from a database application to read a portion of a database file, where a secondary copy of the database file resides on a secondary storage device(s) and is organized as a plurality of first blocks, wherein the request includes a database file offset(s) corresponding to the requested portion; and map the database file offset(s) to a subset of the first blocks that correspond to requested database object(s). The system may include a secondary storage controller computer(s) configured to: access a table that maps the plurality of first blocks to storage locations on the secondary storage device(s); using the table, locate and retrieve the subset of the first blocks on the secondary storage device(s); and forward the retrieved first blocks for storage in a primary storage device(s).

Abstract: Software, firmware, and systems are described herein that migrate functionality of a source physical computing device to a destination physical computing device. A non-production copy of data associated with a source physical computing device is created. A configuration of the source physical computing device is determined. A configuration for a destination physical computing device is determined based at least in part on the configuration of the source physical computing device. The destination physical computing device is provided access to data and metadata associated with the source physical computing device using the non-production copy of data associated with the source physical computing device.

Abstract: The illustrative storage management system uses snapshot technologies and performs block-level analysis thereof and to synthesize full backups of a database, regardless of the database management system (DBMS) and content of the database and without involving native DBMS utilities. Synthetic full copies are created efficiently and use network transport resources sparingly. Successive snapshots of the database may be hardware snapshots and/or software snapshots. The illustrative storage management system tracks which data blocks in the database change over time after a baseline full copy is saved to secondary storage. Only the changed blocks are subsequently moved to secondary storage as incremental backups and are indexed for future reference. A synthetic full backup of the database, at a given point in time, may be created by synthesizing the original full backup with changed blocks from any number of later incremental backups.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a generic snapshot interface, allowing for integration with a wide variety of snapshot-capable storage devices. The generic interface can be a programming interface (e.g., an application programming interface [API]). Using the snapshot interface, storage device vendors can integrate their particular snapshot technology with the data storage system. For instance, the data storage system can access a shared library of functions (e.g., a dynamically linked library [DLL]) provided by the vendor (or another by appropriate entity) and that complies with the specifications of the common programming interface. And by invoking the appropriate functions in the library, the data storage system implements the snapshot operation on the storage device.

Abstract: A data storage system according to certain aspects can share a single snapshot for multiple applications and/or agents. For example, the data storage system can receive snapshot commands from multiple applications and/or agents, and can group them for a single snapshot (e.g., based on time of receipt of the snapshot commands). Data associated with the multiple applications and/or agents may reside on a single LUN or volume. The data storage system can take a single snapshot of the LUN or volume, and generate metadata regarding which portion of the snapshot is related to which application. The single snapshot can be stored in one or more secondary storage devices. The single snapshot may be partitioned into portions relating to different applications and stored separately.

Abstract: The systems and methods provide for migrating database management system (DBMS) applications to cloud storage by automating a continuous replication of changes made to the DBMS from the DBMS to an associated cloud instance. For example, the systems and methods facilitate the migration of the DBMS via multiple processes performing in parallel —a process to create and provision a new machine instance (e.g., an EC2 instance), a process to clone and transfer parameters of the operating system/software of the DBMS, and a process that backs up and/or captures the application data of the DBMS. In some embodiments, the systems and methods, utilizing parallel processes, and combining outputs of the processes to a synchronization process, efficiently and quickly migrate DBMS applications to cloud storage, among other benefits.

Abstract: A system according to certain aspects improves the process of data restoration and application recovery operations. The system can back up primary data based on network path information associated with a client computing device. When the primary data becomes corrupted or unavailable, a previously backed up copy of the primary data may be used as the primary data to achieve instant application recovery. For example, when a portion of the primary data is requested by a user or an application, the system may identify a corresponding portion in the backed up copy of the primary data and provide the identified portion to the user or the application in a manner transparent to the user or the application. Alternatively, the application running on the client computing device may send a request for the backup copy of the primary data to the secondary storage device upon determining that the requested data is not available.

Abstract: Expandable cache management dynamically manages cache storage for multiple network shares configured in a file server. Once a file is written to a directory or folder on a specially designated network share, such as one that is configured for “infinite backup,” an intermediary pre-backup copy of the file is created in an expandable cache in the file server that hosts the network share. On write operations, cache storage space can be dynamically expanded or freed up by pruning previously backed up data. This advantageously creates flexible storage caches in the file server for each network share, each cache managed independently of other like caches for other network shares on the same file server. On read operations, intermediary file storage in the expandable cache gives client computing devices speedy access to data targeted for backup, which is generally quicker than restoring files from backed up secondary copies.

Abstract: An illustrative “open archive” architecture provides streamlined access to production data, which originally was stored on a NAS device but which is archived to secondary storage to free up NAS space. An open-archive server coordinates with an open-archive layer on the NAS device. The open-archive server identifies data sets on the NAS that meet archiving criteria, which are then automatically moved to an open archive in secondary storage. The open archive layer intercepts data-access calls coming into the NAS device, and reports the intercepted calls to the open-archive server. If the open-archive server determines that the data referenced in an intercepted call is in the open archive, the server initiates a restore job that recovers the data from secondary storage and stores it back on the NAS device. The intercepted call may now be served from the NAS. These operations occur automatically and without data agents for the NAS-based data.

Abstract: This application discloses a server for handling data reporting requests in a system that also comprises storage managers, primary storage devices, and secondary storage devices connected over one or more networks. The server receives, from each storage manager, a copy of data associated with the storage manager, and stores the received copies in one or more local databases. The server builds offline one or more indices for part or all of the received copies to improve query processing against the one or more local databases. Next, the server receives a request over a network from one of the storage managers or a standalone console, which received the request from a user for a report of data associated with the storage managers. The server produces a data report in response to the request, using the one or more indices and without impacting performance of the storage managers.

Abstract: Software, firmware, and systems are described herein that migrate functionality of a source physical computing device to a destination physical computing device. A non-production copy of data associated with a source physical computing device is created. A configuration of the source physical computing device is determined. A configuration for a destination physical computing device is determined based at least in part on the configuration of the source physical computing device. The destination physical computing device is provided access to data and metadata associated with the source physical computing device using the non-production copy of data associated with the source physical computing device.

Abstract: Container images may be generated from a backup system that includes a backup of one or more applications from a computing system of an entity. During a backup process, an application can be identified and its storage location in a secondary storage can be tracked or saved in a backup index. Configuration information and data or files created by user interaction with the application can be backed up and the location of the backed up data or files may be stored in the backup index along with the location of the configuration information. Using the backup index, a container image can be created that includes a selected application, its configuration information, and data, if any, created by the application. The container image can be generated from the backup stored in the secondary storage.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods enable an application to start operating and servicing users soon after and during the course of its backup data being restored, no matter how long the restore may take. This is referred to as “instant application recovery” in view of the fact that the application may be put back in service soon after the restore operation begins. Any primary data generated by the application during “instant application recovery” is not only retained, but is efficiently updated into restored data. An enhanced data agent and an associated pseudo-storage-device driver, which execute on the same client computing device as the application, enable the application to operate substantially concurrently with a full restore of backed up data.

Abstract: The systems and methods provide for migrating such applications to cloud storage by automating a continuous replication of changes made to the DBMS from the DBMS to an associated cloud instance. For example, the systems and methods facilitate the migration of the DBMS via multiple processes performing in parallel—a process to create and provision a new machine instance (e.g., an EC2 instance), a process to clone and transfer parameters of the operating system/software of the DBMS, and a process that backs up and/or captures the application data of the DBMS.

Abstract: A log monitoring system uses log monitoring rules to monitor log data generated by applications executing on a client computing device. By monitoring log data, the system detects that one or more triggering events have occurred on the client computing device. In response, the log monitoring system can perform one or more appropriate remedial actions. Additionally, in response to the detected event(s), the log monitoring system can extract a select subset of relevant data from the client and transmit the subset of data to a separate repository for storage and/or processing.

Abstract: This application discloses a server for handling data reporting requests in a system that also comprises storage managers, primary storage devices, and secondary storage devices connected over one or more networks. The server receives, from each storage manager, a copy of data associated with the storage manager, and stores the received copies in one or more local databases. The server builds offline one or more indices for part or all of the received copies to improve query processing against the one or more local databases. Next, the server receives a request over a network from one of the storage managers or a standalone console, which received the request from a user for a report of data associated with the storage managers. The server produces a data report in response to the request, using the one or more indices and without impacting performance of the storage managers.