Abstract: Systems and methods relating to making a physical copy at a remote storage device of data on a local storage device in response to a command from a backup application operatively associated with the local storage device are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises replicating the data from the local storage device on the remote storage device. The method also comprises copying the data replicated at the remote storage device to a physical medium operatively associated with the remote storage device in response to a command from the backup application operatively associated with the local storage device.

Abstract: A virtual storage system includes a storage subsystem having virtual storage devices to emulate physical storage devices of an actual storage system. The virtual storage system has a controller to detect a status change of a particular physical storage device in the actual storage system. The status change includes at least one of loading of the particular physical storage device and ejecting of the particular physical storage device. In response to detecting the status change of the particular physical storage device, the controller performs synchronization between the virtual storage system and the actual storage system by updating a state of a corresponding virtual storage device in the virtual storage system.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting between source and target deduplication include analyzing resource information related to resources available for deduplication, analyzing backup metadata of a backup job containing formation related to backup of data from the source to the target, and selecting between deduplication on the source or the target based on the analyzed resource information and the backup metadata.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting between source and target deduplication include analyzing resource information related to resources available for deduplication, analyzing backup metadata of a backup job containing formation related to backup of data from the source to the target, and selecting between deduplication on the source or the target based on the analyzed resource information and the backup metadata.

Abstract: Systems and methods of load balancing backup jobs in a virtualized storage system having a plurality of physical nodes are disclosed. An example of a method includes receiving a backup job from a client for data on a plurality of virtualized storage nodes presented to the client as a single object. The method also includes identifying at least one property of the backup job. The method also includes directing incoming data for the backup job to a particular one of the plurality of virtualized storage nodes, selection of the particular one of the plurality of virtualized storage nodes based on the at least one property of the backup job.

Abstract: Systems and methods of using different storage tiers based on a backup policy are disclosed. An example of a method includes receiving a backup job from a client for data on a plurality of virtualized storage nodes. The method also includes identifying at least one property of the backup job. The method also includes accessing the backup policy for the backup job. The method also includes selecting between storing incoming data for the backup job on the plurality of virtualized storage nodes in a first tier or a second tier based on the backup policy.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing storage tiers for different backup types. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a backup job from a client for data on a virtualized storage node. The method also includes identifying a type of the backup job. The method also includes storing data on at least one other virtualized storage node in a first tier or a second tier. Selection between the first tier and the second tier is based on the type of the backup job.

Abstract: Reimaging a multi-node storage system is disclosed. An exemplary method includes downloading an upgrade image to a master node in the backup system. The method also includes pushing the upgrade image from the master node to all nodes in the backup system. The method also includes installing the upgrade image at each node while leaving an original image intact at each node in the backup system. The method also includes switching a boot marker to the upgrade image installed at each node in the backup system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing virtual storage resources are disclosed. An exemplary method includes analyzing parameters of a plurality of backup jobs over time to model backup lifecycle. The method also includes estimating size of available storage capacity over time based on the modeled backup lifecycle. The method also includes identifying storage options using the available storage capacity on an ongoing basis for future backup jobs.

Abstract: Systems and methods of load balancing data access in virtualized storage nodes are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a data access request from a client for data on a plurality of the virtualized storage nodes. The method also includes connecting the client to one of the plurality of virtualized storage nodes having data for the data access request. The method also includes reconnecting the client to another one of the plurality of virtualized storage nodes to continue accessing data in the data access request.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to making a physical copy at a remote storage device of data on a local storage device in response to a command from a backup application operatively associated with the local storage device are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises replicating the data from the local storage device on the remote storage device. The method also comprises copying the data replicated at the remote storage device to a physical medium operatively associated with the remote storage device in response to a command from the backup application operatively associated with the local storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining impact of a backup job on virtual storage resources are disclosed. An exemplary method includes determining an estimated performance and logical/physical capacity for the backup job on a virtual library storage (VLS). The method also includes determining an actual performance and logical/physical capacity without the backup job. The method also includes determining a simulated performance and logical/physical capacity based on the estimated and actual performance and logical/physical capacity. The method also includes comparing the simulated performance and logical/physical capacity to a threshold.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that comprises creating a plurality of vaulting policies, each vaulting policy having one or more cycles specifying a movement of media to a destination location and a time to execute the cycle. The method further comprises associating a first vaulting policy of the plurality to a first set of media and associating a second vaulting policy of the plurality to a second set of media, the second set of media comprising a subset of the first set of media, the second vaulting policy superseding the first vaulting policy for the media contained in the subset.

Abstract: The present invention in at least some embodiments relates to improved methods and systems for governing access to SAN data storage devices (or simply “SAN devices”) employed in SAN systems. In some embodiments, the method involves storing a list at a SAN device. The list can be an exclusion list identifying devices that are not allowed to access the SAN device. During normal operation, the SAN device automatically contacts the SAN (or a component of the SAN, such as a SAN switch) to determine the identities of new devices that have entered into communication with the SAN. The SAN device then automatically updates the exclusion list to include those new devices such that, without further instructions, the SAN device is not accessible by those new devices. The method further can relate to the setup and failure recovery of SAN devices employed in SAN systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods of enhanced virtual storage replication are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises moving a virtual tape from a local virtual library to a remote virtual library. The method also comprises ejecting the virtual tape moved to the remote virtual library. The method also comprises recycling the ejected virtual tape at the local virtual library based on a remote retention policy.

Abstract: Systems and methods of mitigating resource usage during virtual storage replication are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises detecting quality of a link between virtual storage libraries used for replicating data. The method also comprises determining a number of concurrent jobs needed to saturate the link. The method also comprises dynamically adjusting the number of concurrent jobs to saturate the link and thereby mitigate resource usage during virtual storage replication.

Abstract: Data management systems, articles of manufacture, and data storage methods are described. According to one aspect, a data management system provides a data storage system configured to store data of a plurality of client protected computer systems, wherein the data storage system comprises a plurality of storage devices individually having a respective capacity, and a quantity of the data of the protected computer systems to be stored exceeds capacities of individual ones of the storage devices and storage control circuitry coupled with the data storage system and configured to assign individual ones of the individual storage devices to store data for respective ones of the protected computer systems.

Abstract: Data management systems, data management system storage devices, articles of manufacture, and data management methods are described. According to one embodiment, a data management system includes a plurality of storage devices individually comprising a physical storage space, wherein the physical storage space of one of the storage devices is configured to store a baseline version of a data object and the physical storage space of an other of the storage devices is configured to store a delta version of the data object and processing circuitry configured to control storage operations of at least one of the storage devices, to process a restore request with respect to the data object, to access the delta version from the other of the storage devices responsive to the restore request, and to initiate communication of data of the baseline version and the delta version of the data object to a computer system.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for managing resources in a physical storage library behind a virtual storage library. In one embodiment, priorities are assigned to copy applications and rules determine which when applications are assigned to resources in the physical storage library.

Abstract: A method for securing access to a data medium comprises listing at least one unique identifier of media that a data transfer element is allowed to access in memory storage of the data transfer element, accessing only media having at least one of the listed unique identifiers in media cartridge memory with the data transfer element, and writing a unique identifier associated with the data transfer element to the cartridge memory of the selected medium with the data transfer element in response to no library assigned unique identifier being present in the cartridge memory of the selected medium.