Abstract: A method and system for reducing storage requirements and speeding up storage operations by reducing the storage of redundant data includes receiving a request that identifies one or more data objects to which to apply a storage operation. For each data object, the storage system determines if the data object contains data that matches another data object to which the storage operation was previously applied. If the data objects do not match, then the storage system performs the storage operation in a usual manner. However, if the data objects do match, then the storage system may avoid performing the storage operation.

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

Abstract: Software, firmware, and systems are described herein that permit an organization to dock previously-utilized, limited-feature data management modules with a full-featured data management system. By docking limited-feature data management modules to a full-featured data management system, metadata and data from the various limited-feature data management modules can be integrated and utilized more efficiently and effectively. Moreover, additional data management features can be provided to users after a more seamless transition.

Abstract: Techniques for providing data preview before recalling large data files are disclosed. In one aspect, a data file is made accessible while being offline by converting the data file from a native format to a preview format, storing the data file in the preview format in a primary storage that is locally available and moving, after the conversion to the preview format, the data file in the native format to a secondary storage. When a viewing request is received for the data file, the data file in the preview format is displayed to fulfill the viewing request.

Abstract: Techniques for providing shared access to, e.g., a small computer system interface (SCSI) storage device in a computer network include providing an operational mode on SCSI interfaces with a first media agent and a second media agent such that, in response to inquiry messages on the SCSI interfaces, the SCSI storage device appears as a SCSI target device to the first media agent and the second media agent and mapping data operations between the first media agent and the SCSI storage device and the second media agent and the SCSI storage device to logically unique channel numbers for the first media agent and the second media agent to perform data storage operations over their respective SCSI interfaces by concurrently sharing the SCSI storage device.

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: Content-aware systems and methods for improving de-duplication, or single instancing, in storage operations. In certain examples, backup agents on client devices parse application-specific data to identify data objects that are candidates for de-duplication. The backup agents can then insert markers or other indictors in the data that identify the location(s) of the particular data objects. Such markers can, in turn, assist a de-duplication manager to perform object-based de-duplication and increase the likelihood that like blocks within the data are identified and single instanced. In other examples, the agents can further determine if a data object of one file type can or should be single-instanced with a data object of a different file type. Such processing of data on the client side can provide for more efficient storage and back-end processing.

Abstract: Software, firmware, and systems are described herein that permit an organization to dock previously-utilized, limited-feature data management modules with a full-featured data management system. By docking limited-feature data management modules to a full-featured data management system, metadata and data from the various limited-feature data management modules can be integrated and utilized more efficiently and effectively. Moreover, additional data management features can be provided to users after a more seamless transition.

Abstract: Virtual machine (VM) proliferation may be reduced by determining the availability of existing VMs to perform a task. Tasks may be assigned to existing VMs instead of creating a new VM to perform the task. Furthermore, a coordinator may determine a grouping of VMs or VM hosts based on one or more factors associated with the VMs or the VM hosts, such as VM type or geographical location of the VM hosts. The coordinator may also assign one or more Virtual Server Agents (VSAs) to facilitate managing the group of VM hosts. In some embodiments, the coordinators may facilitate load balancing of VSAs during operation, such as during a backup operation, a restore operation, or any other operation between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system.

Abstract: Virtual machine (VM) proliferation may be reduced through the use of Virtual Server Agents (VSAs) assigned to a group of VM hosts that may determine the availability of a VM to perform a task. Tasks may be assigned to existing VMs instead of creating a new VM to perform the task. Furthermore, a VSA coordinator may determine a grouping of VMs or VM hosts based on one or more factors associated with the VMs or the VM hosts, such as VM type or geographical location of the VM hosts. The VSA coordinator may also assign one or more VSAs to facilitate managing the group of VM hosts. In some embodiments, the VSA coordinators may facilitate load balancing of VSAs during operation, such as during a backup operation, a restore operation, or any other operation between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system.

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: Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a user-centric interface into an information management system. The interface may enable a user to search for, view, and modify data objects in an information management system that are associated with the user or with the user's username. The interface may also enable a user to apply administrator-like functions to the data objects associated with the user. The administrator-like functions may include content modification, deduplication operations, and storage policy adjustments, among others.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for better understanding problems arising in an illustrative information management system, such as a data storage management system, and for issuing appropriate alerts and reporting to data management professionals. The illustrative embodiments include a number of features that detect and raise awareness of anomalies in system operations. Categories of interest include events and job anomalies, such as long-running jobs and job success/failure rates. Anomalies are characterized by frequency anomalies and/or by occurrence counts. Utilization is also of interest for certain key system resources, such as deduplication databases, CPU and memory at the storage manager, etc., without limitation. Predicting low utilization periods for these and other key resources is useful for scheduling maintenance activities without interfering with ordinary data protection jobs.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for better understanding problems arising in an illustrative information management system, such as a data storage management system, and for issuing appropriate alerts and reporting to data management professionals. The illustrative embodiments include a number of features that detect and raise awareness of anomalies in system operations, such as in deduplication pruning operations. Such anomalies can include delays in the processing of archive files to be deleted and/or delays in the generation of the list of archive files to delete. Anomalies are characterized by frequency anomalies and/or by occurrence counts. Utilization is also of interest for certain key system resources, such as deduplication databases, CPU and memory at the storage manager, etc., without limitation.

Abstract: An information management system according to certain aspects may determine whether storage operations will work prior to executing them. The system may check various factors or parameters relating to a storage policy to verify whether the storage policy will work at runtime without actually executing the policy. Some examples of factors can include: availability of primary storage devices, availability of secondary storage devices, license availability for performing that operation, user credentials for connecting to primary and/or second storage devices, available storage capacity, connectivity to storage devices, etc. The system may also check whether a particular system configuration is supported in connection with storage operations. The result of the determination can be provided in the form of a report summarizing any problems found with the storage policy. The report can include recommended courses of action or solutions for resolving any identified issues.

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: A method and system for reducing storage requirements and speeding up storage operations by reducing the storage of redundant data includes receiving a request that identifies one or more data objects to which to apply a storage operation. For each data object, the storage system determines if the data object contains data that matches another data object to which the storage operation was previously applied. If the data objects do not match, then the storage system performs the storage operation in a usual manner. However, if the data objects do match, then the storage system may avoid performing the storage operation.

Abstract: Techniques for providing shared access to, e.g., a small computer system interface (SCSI) storage device in a computer network include providing an operational mode on SCSI interfaces with a first media agent and a second media agent such that, in response to inquiry messages on the SCSI interfaces, the SCSI storage device appears as a SCSI target device to the first media agent and the second media agent and mapping data operations between the first media agent and the SCSI storage device and the second media agent and the SCSI storage device to logically unique channel numbers for the first media agent and the second media agent to perform data storage operations over their respective SCSI interfaces by concurrently sharing the SCSI storage device.

Abstract: Virtual machine (VM) proliferation may be reduced by determining the availability of existing VMs to perform a task. Tasks may be assigned to existing VMs instead of creating a new VM to perform the task. Furthermore, a coordinator may determine a grouping of VMs or VM hosts based on one or more factors associated with the VMs or the VM hosts, such as VM type or geographical location of the VM hosts. The coordinator may also assign one or more Virtual Server Agents (VSAs) to facilitate managing the group of VM hosts. In some embodiments, the coordinators may facilitate load balancing of VSAs during operation, such as during a backup operation, a restore operation, or any other operation between a primary storage system and a secondary storage system.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, an information management cell can include at least one secondary storage computing device configured to conduct primary data generated by at least one client computing device to a secondary storage device(s) as part of secondary copy operations, wherein the secondary storage computing device normally operates to conduct primary data to the secondary storage device(s) for storage as a secondary copy in a first secondary copy file format, at the direction of a main storage manager; and can include a failover storage manager configured to activate in response to loss of connectivity between the cell and the main storage manager, and instruct a secondary copy application to perform a secondary copy operation in which the primary data generated by the at least one client computing device is stored as a secondary copy in a second secondary copy file format different than the first secondary copy file format.