System and method for automated data storage management

Abstract

A system, method and program product for assigning management classes to data objects. The disclosed system includes a class assignment system for assigning a management class to an inputted data object, wherein the class assignment system analyzes historical usage characteristics of existing data objects that have attributes similar to the inputted data object; and a data analysis system that analyzes existing data objects to generate a knowledge base of historical usage characteristics. The historical usage characteristics are updated as existing objects make their way through the storage lifecycle.

1 . A management class processing system, comprising: 
 a class assignment system for assigning a management class to an inputted data object, wherein the class assignment system identifies historical usage characteristics of existing data objects that have attributes similar to the inputted data object; and    a data analysis system that analyzes existing data objects to generate a knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.    
   
   
       2 . The management class processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the class assignment system includes assignment logic for selecting a management class from a set of management classes for the inputted data object.  
   
   
       3 . The management class processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the management class dictates a storage scheme for the data object.  
   
   
       4 . The management processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data management system for managing historical usage characteristics in the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.  
   
   
       5 . The management class processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the class assignment system includes a system for searching the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.  
   
   
       6 . The management processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the existing data objects analyzed by the data analysis system are stored in a storage system.  
   
   
       7 . The management processing system of  claim 6 , wherein the inputted data object is stored in the storage system with an assigned management class.  
   
   
       8 . The management processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the storage system is distributed over a network.  
   
   
       9 . The management processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics is distributed over a network.  
   
   
       10 . A program product stored on a recordable medium for processing management classes, comprising: 
 program code for assigning a management class to an inputted data object by identifying historical usage characteristics of existing data objects that have attributes similar to the inputted data object; and    program code that analyzes existing data objects to generate a knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.    
   
   
       11 . The program product of  claim 10 , wherein the program code for assigning a management class to an inputted data object includes assignment logic for selecting a management class from a set of management classes.  
   
   
       12 . The program product of  claim 10 , wherein the management class dictates a storage scheme for the data object.  
   
   
       13 . The program product of  claim 10 , further comprising program code for managing historical usage characteristics in the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.  
   
   
       14 . The program product of  claim 10 , further comprising program code for searching the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.  
   
   
       15 . The program product of  claim 10 , wherein the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics is distributed over a network.  
   
   
       16 . A method for assigning management classes, comprising: 
 analyzing existing data objects in a storage system to determine historical usage characteristics;    inputting a new data object having at least one attribute; and    assigning the new data object to a management class by analyzing historical usage characteristics of similarly attributed existing data objects.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the historical usage characteristics are stored in a knowledge base.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the assigning step includes the step of selecting a management class from a set of management classes.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the assigned management class dictates a storage scheme for the data object.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the assigning step includes the step of searching the knowledge base of historical usage characteristics.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising the further step of storing the new data object in the storage system with an assigned management class.  
   
   
       22 . A system for deploying an application for assigning management classes to data objects, comprising: 
 a computer infrastructure being operable to: 
 analyze existing data objects in a storage system to determine historical usage characteristics;  
 input a new data object having at least one attribute; and  
 assign the new data object to a management class by analyzing historical usage characteristics of similarly attributed existing data objects.  
   
   
   
       23 . Computer software embodied in a propagated signal for assigning management classes to data objects, the computer software comprising instructions to cause a computer system to perform the following functions: 
 analyze existing data objects in a storage system to determine historical usage characteristics;    input a new data object having at least one attribute; and    assign the new data object to a management class by analyzing historical usage characteristics of similarly attributed existing data objects.