Hierarchical systems and methods for performing data storage operations

Abstract

The invention is a hierarchical backup system. The interconnected network computing devices are put into groups of backup cells. A backup cell has a manager software agent responsible maintaining and initiating a backup regime for the network computing devices in the backup cell. The backups are directed to backup devices within the backup cell. Several backup cells can be defined. A manager software agent for a particular cell may be placed into contact with the manager software agent of another cell, by which information about the cells may be passed back and forth. Additionally, one of the software agents may be given administrative control over another software agent with which it is in communication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage management system for storing data in a network environment, the storage management system comprising:
 a first plurality of virtual backup devices;   a second plurality of virtual backup devices;   a manager component comprising one or more computer devices, the first manager component associated with at least the first and second plurality of virtual backup devices, the manager component configured to manage backup operations for at least one of the first plurality of virtual backup devices and for at least one of the second plurality of virtual backup devices;   a plurality of media components configured to execute on at least one network computing device and being communicatively coupled to the manager component and the first and second plurality of virtual backup devices,   wherein the manager component is configured to direct backup operations on at least one of the first plurality of virtual backup devices by directing data through at least one of the plurality of media components to one or more of the first plurality of virtual backup devices; and   wherein the manager component is further configured to direct backup operations on at least one of the second plurality of virtual backup devices by directing data through at least one of the plurality of media components to one or more of the second plurality of virtual backup devices.   
     
     
         2 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the plurality of media components comprises an index of the physical location of the data stored on the first plurality of virtual backup devices. 
     
     
         3 . The storage management system of  claim 2  wherein the media component is configured to send at least a portion of the index to the manager component. 
     
     
         4 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of virtual backup devices are logically grouped separately from the second plurality of virtual backup devices. 
     
     
         5 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of virtual backup devices are logically grouped together as a unit associated with a set of backup guidelines. 
     
     
         6 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of virtual backup devices comprise a first backup cell. 
     
     
         7 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the manager component is configured to maintain information regarding an operational status of at least one of the plurality of media components. 
     
     
         8 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the manager component is a virtual manager component. 
     
     
         9 . The storage management system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the second plurality of virtual backup devices further comprises a client component configured to obtain and transmit the data to at least one of the plurality of media components. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the backup operations are based on at least one of a storage schedule, an aging policy and a pruning policy. 
     
     
         11 . A method for performing a storage operation in a storage management system, the method comprising:
 processing backup operations with a management component comprising one or more computer devices, wherein the management component is associated with at least a first plurality of virtual, backup devices and at least a second plurality of virtual backup devices;   directing with the manager component backup operations on at least one of the first plurality of virtual backup devices by directing data through at least one of a plurality of media components to one or more of the first plurality of virtual backup devices; and   directing with the manager component backup operations on at least one of the second plurality of virtual backup devices by directing data through at least one of the plurality of media components to one or more of the second plurality of virtual backup devices.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one of the plurality of media components generates an index of the physical location of the data stored on the first plurality of virtual backup devices. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the media component sends at least a portion of the index to the manager component. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising logically grouping the first plurality of virtual backup devices separately from the second plurality of virtual backup devices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising logically grouping the first plurality of virtual backup devices together as a unit associated with a set of backup guidelines. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first plurality of virtual backup devices comprise a first backup cell. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the manager component maintains information regarding an operational status of at least one of the plurality of media components. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the manager component is a virtual manager component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one of the second plurality of virtual backup devices further comprises a client component configured to obtain and transmit the data to at least one of the plurality of media components. 
     
     
         20 . The method  claim 11  wherein the backup operations are based on at least one of a storage schedule, an aging policy and a pruning policy.