Abstract: Application discovery from access patterns is disclosed. Access histories from multiple servers are collected and stored at a warehouse, which may be part of a data protection system. A time series analysis is performed on the access history to identify consistency groups and applications from the perspective of devices and storage arrays. Data protection operations such as backup operations can then be performed on the basis of devices or storage in storage arrays or other arrangements that pertain to specific consistency groups or to specific applications.

Abstract: Application discovery from access patterns is disclosed. Access histories from multiple servers are collected and stored at a warehouse, which may be part of a data protection system. A time series analysis is performed on the access history to identify consistency groups and applications from the perspective of devices and storage arrays. Data protection operations such as backup operations can then be performed on the basis of devices or storage in storage arrays or other arrangements that pertain to specific consistency groups or to specific applications.

Abstract: Transferring files directly from a storage system to a backup storage system includes determining identifiers for blocks on the storage system that correspond to files that are to be backed up, providing the identifiers for the blocks to the storage system, and the storage system pushing the blocks indicated by the identifiers directly from the storage system to the backup storage system. The identifiers may be logical block addresses. Determining the logical block addresses may vary according to a file system for files that are to be backed up. Determining the logical block address may include determining an inode value for each of the files that are to be backed up or may include determining a logical cluster number for each of the files that are to be backed up. The backup storage system may include a media server and a storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for dynamically allocating and reallocating system resources between production work tasks and administrative tasks using policies. A resource monitor continuously monitors all resources in a computing system, and whether the resources are used for production work or administrative tasks. A policy can define resources needed to execute an administrative task and conditions which can be used to determine whether or not the administrative command is allocated the resources, even at the expense of a negative impact to production work.

Abstract: Application discovery from access patterns is disclosed. Access histories from multiple servers are collected and stored at a warehouse, which me part of a data protection system. A time series analysis is performed on the access history to identify consistency groups and applications from the perspective of devices and storage arrays. Data protection operations such as backup operations can then be performed on the basis of devices or storage in storage arrays or other arrangements that pertain to specific consistency groups or to specific applications.

Abstract: Transferring files directly from a storage system to a backup storage system includes determining identifiers for blocks on the storage system that correspond to files that are to be backed up, providing the identifiers for the blocks to the storage system, and the storage system pushing the blocks indicated by the identifiers directly from the storage system to the backup storage system. The identifiers may be logical block addresses. Determining the logical block addresses may vary according to a file system for files that are to be backed up. Determining the logical block address may include determining an inode value for each of the files that are to be backed up or may include determining a logical cluster number for each of the files that are to be backed up. The backup storage system may include a media server and a storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a host device configured to communicate over a network with a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices. The host device is further configured to execute multiple processes that generate input-output (IO) operations for delivery to the storage system. The host device comprises a multi-path input-output (MPIO) driver configured to store for each of one or more of the storage devices information specifying one or more of the processes executing on the host device that are permitted to access that storage device, and for each of at least a subset of the IO operations, to determine the particular storage device to which the IO operation is directed, to identify the process that generated the IO operation, and to control delivery of the IO operation based at least in part on whether or not the stored information indicates that the identified process is permitted to access the particular storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a host device configured to communicate over a network with a storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices. The host device is further configured to execute multiple processes that generate input-output (IO) operations for delivery to the storage system. The host device comprises a multi-path input-output (MPIO) driver configured to store for each of one or more of the storage devices information specifying one or more of the processes executing on the host device that are permitted to access that storage device, and for each of at least a subset of the IO operations, to determine the particular storage device to which the IO operation is directed, to identify the process that generated the IO operation, and to control delivery of the IO operation based at least in part on whether or not the stored information indicates that the identified process is permitted to access the particular storage device.

Abstract: A system for improving backup performance includes an interface, a processor, and a memory. The interface is to receive a volume identifier to backup. The processor is to determine allocation for data of a volume associated with the volume identifier in a plurality of storage tiers to improve backup processing, move data based at least in part on the allocation, and backup data of the volume. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for dynamically allocating and reallocating system resources between production work tasks and administrative tasks using policies. A resource monitor continuously monitors all resources in a computing system, and whether the resources are used for production work or administrative tasks. A policy can define resources needed to execute an administrative task and conditions which can be used to determine whether or not the administrative command is allocated the resources, even at the expense of a negative impact to production work.

Abstract: A system, computer program product, and computer-executable method of balancing Input/Output (I/O) loads for cloud data storage systems including a plurality of hosts and a plurality of data storage arrays, the system, computer program product, and computer-executable method including monitoring, via a first host of the plurality of hosts, a status of a first data storage array of the plurality of data storage arrays, upon detecting a performance issue with the first data storage array, notifying a cloud manager of the first data storage array, wherein the cloud manager is in communication with each of the plurality of hosts and each of the plurality of data storage arrays, monitoring, via the cloud manager, the performance issue, and determining, via the cloud manager, whether to move at least one LUN from the first data storage array.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enhancing data protection is disclosed. The method starts with monitoring an operating status of a storage volume at a primary storage of a storage system, where the storage volume is allocated to one or more applications. The method continues with determining whether the operating status of the storage volume satisfies a predetermined condition and notifying a backup application to trigger a backup of the storage volume of the primary storage to a backup storage upon determining that the operating status of the storage volume satisfies the first predetermined condition.

Abstract: A system for resolving write pressure includes a primary storage unit, a backup storage unit, and a processor. The primary storage unit comprises a primary storage unit input buffer and a volume storage unit. The backup storage unit comprises a backup storage unit input buffer and a volume backup storage unit. The processor is to: store a first set of input data in the backup storage unit input buffer in the event that the primary storage unit input buffer is unable to store the first set of input data and transfer the first set of input data to the primary storage unit input buffer as space is available after storing data from the primary storage unit input buffer in the volume storage unit.

Abstract: A system for improving backup performance includes an interface, a processor, and a memory. The interface is to receive a volume identifier to backup. The processor is to determine allocation for data of a volume associated with the volume identifier in a plurality of storage tiers to improve backup processing, move data based at least in part on the allocation, and backup data of the volume. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: A system for resolving write pressure includes a primary storage unit, a backup storage unit, and a processor. The primary storage unit comprises a primary storage unit input buffer and a volume storage unit. The backup storage unit comprises a backup storage unit input buffer and a volume backup storage unit. The processor is to: store a first set of input data in the backup storage unit input buffer in the event that the primary storage unit input buffer is unable to store the first set of input data and transfer the first set of input data to the primary storage unit input buffer as space is available after storing data from the primary storage unit input buffer in the volume storage unit.

Abstract: Exemplary methods for monitoring and improving performance at a storage system include analyzing storage performance statistics collected during operations of a storage system. In one embodiment, the methods include in response to determining storage performance satisfies a predetermined condition based on the analyzed storage performance statistics, determining one or more storage configuration suggestions that will likely improve the storage performance based on the analysis. In one embodiment, the methods include transmitting a first set of alerts to a user of the storage system indicating storage performance is poor under a current set of configurations based on the analysis, wherein at least one or more of the first set of alerts includes the one or more storage configuration suggestions to allow the user of the storage system to modify the current set of configurations in an attempt to improve the storage performance of the storage system.