Systems and methods for remote storage management

Abstract

A system comprises a first storage resource, a second storage resource, a hosted application, a proxy engine, and a proxy interface. The first storage resource stores first data and uses a first program interface for communicating the first data. The second storage resource stores second data and uses a second program interface for communicating the second data. The hosted application uses application data, the first data and/or the second data including the application data. The proxy engine directs application data requests by the hosted application to the first storage resource or to the second storage resource. The proxy interface uses the first program interface to communicate with the first storage device and the second program interface to communicate with the second storage device to respond to the application data requests.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first storage resource operative to store first data thereon, the first storage resource using a first program interface for communicating the first data;   a second storage resource operative to store second data thereon, the second storage resource using a second program interface for communicating the second data;   a hosted application operative to use application data, the first data and/or the second data including the application data;   a proxy engine for directing application data requests by the hosted application to the first storage resource or to the second storage resource; and   a proxy interface using the first program interface to communicate with the first storage device and the second program interface to communicate with the second storage device, the proxy interface operative to respond to the application data requests by communicating via the first program interface with the first storage device or via the second program interface with the second storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes a graphical user interface for enabling a user to access the first storage resource and the second storage resource as a unified resource. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes an application program interface for enabling automatic access by the hosted application. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage resource includes one of local storage resource or network storage. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first program interface and the second program interface use different storage protocols. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes a load balancing engine operative to balance the loads across the first storage resource and the second storage resource. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes a provisioning engine operative to provision additional storage resources as needed. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first program interface is operative for accessing the first storage resource and at least one other storage resource that uses a same protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface is operative to redirect requests by the hosted application. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second hosted application operative to use second application data, the first data and the second data including the second application data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes a caching engine for caching at least a portion of the application data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes a permission engine operative to manage data access rights. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes an operating system component for redirecting file-system data requests. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proxy interface includes a migration engine operative to migrate data across storage resources. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 storing first data on a first storage resource, the first storage resource using a first program interface for communicating the first data;   storing second data on a second storage resource, the second storage resource using a second program interface for communicating the second data;   receiving a data request from a hosted application that uses application data, the first data and the second data including the application data;   directing the data request to the first storage resource or to the second storage resource; and   using a proxy interface to communicate the data request to the first storage device or to the second storage device, the proxy interface using the first program interface to communicate with the first storage device or the second program interface to communicate with the second storage device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a graphical user interface for enabling a user to access the first storage resource and the second storage resource as a unified resource. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using an application program interface for enabling automatic access by the hosted application. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first storage resource includes one of local storage resource or network storage. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first program interface and the second program interface use different storage protocols. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a load balancing engine to balance the loads across the first storage resource and the second storage resource. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a provisioning engine operative to provision additional storage resources as needed. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using the first program interface for accessing at least one other storage resource that uses a same protocol as the first storage resource. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising redirecting requests by the hosted application. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a second data request from a second hosted application operative to use second application data, the first data and the second data including the second application data. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a caching engine for caching at least a portion of the application data. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a permission engine to manage data access rights. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using an operating system component for redirecting file-system data requests. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a migration engine to migrate data across storage resources. 
     
     
         29 . A system, comprising:
 a first storage resource for storing first data, the first storage resource using a first program interface for communicating the first data;   a second storage resource for storing second data, the second storage resource using a second program interface for communicating the second data;   means for receiving a data request from a hosted application that uses application data, the first data and the second data including the application data;   means for directing the data request to the first storage resource or to the second storage resource; and   means for using a proxy interface to communicate the data request to the first storage device or to the second storage device, the proxy interface using the first program interface to communicate with the first storage device or the second program interface to communicate with the second storage device.