Abstract: An illustrative “VM heartbeat monitoring network” of heartbeat monitor nodes monitors target VMs in a data storage management system. Accordingly, target VMs are distributed and re-distributed among illustrative worker monitor nodes according to preferences in an illustrative VM distribution logic. Worker heartbeat monitor nodes use an illustrative ping monitoring logic to transmit special-purpose heartbeat packets to respective target VMs and to track ping responses. If a target VM is ultimately confirmed failed by its worker monitor node, an illustrative master monitor node triggers an enhanced storage manager to initiate failover for the failed VM. The enhanced storage manager communicates with the heartbeat monitor nodes and also manages VM failovers and other storage management operations in the system. Special features for cloud-to-cloud failover scenarios enable a VM in a first region of a public cloud to fail over to a second region.

Abstract: An illustrative “VM heartbeat monitoring network” of heartbeat monitor nodes monitors target VMs in a data storage management system. Accordingly, target VMs are distributed and re-distributed among illustrative worker monitor nodes according to preferences in an illustrative VM distribution logic. Worker heartbeat monitor nodes use an illustrative ping monitoring logic to transmit special-purpose heartbeat packets to respective target VMs and to track ping responses. If a target VM is ultimately confirmed failed by its worker monitor node, an illustrative master monitor node triggers an enhanced storage manager to initiate failover for the failed VM. The enhanced storage manager communicates with the heartbeat monitor nodes and also manages VM failovers and other storage management operations in the system. Special features for cloud-to-cloud failover scenarios enable a VM in a first region of a public cloud to fail over to a second region.

Abstract: An exemplary entity difference management system manages one or more properties of entities that operate within an organization's information management system(s) and/or information management cell(s), such that it enforces conformance with a given model entity by ensuring that one or more non-conforming entities are reconfigured to operate in accordance with one or more preferred operational properties of the model entity. The entity difference management system may manage across a plurality of information management systems, regardless of which information management system comprises the model entity. The following entities may be managed: information management cell(s) and/or associated storage manager(s), information management policies; secondary storage devices; client computing devices; sub-clients; data agents; and/or other elements of an information management system, without limitation.

Abstract: A file manager application that integrates with virtualization substantially enables end-user control and storage management of virtual machines (VMs).

Abstract: A storage manager that interoperates with a file manager application that integrates with virtualization substantially enables end-user control and storage management of virtual machines (VMs). The storage manager may manage information management operations relative to virtual machines based on and/or in response to messages and/or instructions received from the file manager application. The storage manager may further report results to the file manager application for presentation to the user.