Data backup prioritization

Abstract

A method for prioritizing data backup requests includes assigning priority values to a plurality of parameters, each parameter being associated with a plurality of data backup requests. The data backup requests can be sorted according to a primary parameter based on the priority values to prioritize the data backup requests. The data backup requests can also be sorted according to a secondary parameter when at least two of the data backup requests have a same primary parameter priority value.

1 . A method for prioritizing data backup requests, comprising:
 assigning priority values to a plurality of parameters, each parameter being associated with a plurality of data backup requests;   sorting the plurality of data backup requests according to a primary parameter from the plurality of parameters based on the priority values to prioritize the plurality of data backup requests, the plurality of parameters comprising levels of importance, and each of the plurality of parameters comprising a plurality of different potential values corresponding to the priority values, the plurality of parameters including at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of: storage tier assignment, number of paths in multipath data environments, type of backup redundancy, job priority, and order of receipt of the data backup requests; and   sorting the plurality of data backup requests according to a secondary parameter from the plurality of parameters when at least two of the plurality of data backup requests comprise a same primary parameter priority value.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprises at least two of: storage tier assignment, number of paths in multipath data environments, type of backup redundancy, job priority, and order of receipt of the data backup requests. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising sorting the plurality of data backup requests according to a tertiary parameter when at least two of the plurality of data backup requests comprise a same secondary parameter priority value, sorting the plurality of data backup requests according to a quaternary parameter when at least two of the plurality of data backup requests comprise a same tertiary parameter priority value, and sorting the plurality of data backup requests according to a quinary parameter when at least two of the plurality of data backup requests comprise a same quaternary parameter priority value. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the plurality of data backup requests on a display after sorting the plurality of data backup requests. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 assigning a lowest level of importance to order of receipt of the data backup requests;   assigning job priority a greater level of importance than order of receipt of the data backup requests;   assigning type of backup redundancy a greater level of importance than job priority;   assigning number of paths in multipath data environments a greater level of importance than type of backup redundancy; and   assigning storage tier assignment a greater level of importance than number of paths in multipath data environments.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 identifying the plurality of different potential values for order of receipt of the data backup requests as the times at which the data backup requests were received;   identifying the plurality of different potential values for job priority as at least designations of priority or no priority;   identifying the plurality of different potential values for type of backup as designations of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) levels;   identifying the plurality of different potential values for number of paths in multipath data environments as any values representing potential numbers of paths in the multipath data environments; and   identifying the plurality of different potential values for storage tier assignment as a plurality of tier designations for different categories of data.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 assigning more important or more active categories of data are a higher priority value than less important or less active categories of data, wherein the tier designations for different categories of data are based on importance or activity of the different categories of data;   assigning a higher priority value to greater numbers of paths in multipath data environments than lesser numbers of paths;   assigning a higher priority to newer times at which the data backup requests were received than older times at which the data backup requests were received;   assigning a higher priority value to priority designations than no priority designations; and   assigning a higher priority value to RAID levels having greater redundancy than RAID levels having lesser redundancy.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions for prioritizing data backup requests that when executed by the processor function as a backup request input module, a data analysis module, a prioritization module, a sorting module, and a conflict module, wherein:
 the backup request input module is operable to receive and stetting store requests for data backup;   the data analysis module is operable to analyze the data backup requests to identify a plurality of parameters associated with the data backup requests;   the prioritization module is operable to assign priority values to the plurality of parameters associated with the data backup requests, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises levels of importance and each of the plurality of parameters comprises a plurality of different potential values corresponding to the priority values, wherein the plurality of parameters includes at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of: storage tier assignment, number of paths in multipath data environments, type of backup redundancy, job priority, and order of receipt of the data backup requests;   the sorting module is configured to sort the data backup requests according to a primary parameter from the plurality of parameters based on the priority values;   the conflict module is configured to identify whether a plurality of the data backup requests comprise a same priority value; and   the sorting module is further configured to sort the data backup requests according to a secondary parameter from the plurality of parameters when the conflict module identifies the at least two data backup requests comprising the same priority value.   
     
     
         10 . A medium as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further includes program instructions that when executed by the processor function as a storage tier identification module operable to identify a storage tier assignment for the plurality of data backup requests. 
     
     
         11 . A medium as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further includes program instructions that when executed by the processor function as a backup redundancy identification module operable to identify backup redundancy for the plurality of data backup requests. 
     
     
         12 . A medium as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further includes program instructions that when executed by the processor function as a job priority module operable to identify user-assigned priorities for the plurality of data backup requests. 
     
     
         13 . A medium as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further includes program instructions that when executed by the processor function as a path identification module operable to identify a number of data paths associated with the plurality of data backup requests. 
     
     
         14 . A medium as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further includes program instructions that when executed by the processor function as a time stamp module operable to identify a time of receipt of the plurality of data backup requests. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A medium as in  claim 9 , wherein the prioritization module is operable to:
 identify the plurality of different potential values for order of receipt of the data backup requests as the times at which the data backup requests were received;   identify the plurality of different potential values for job priority as at least designations of priority or no priority;   identify the plurality of different potential values for type of backup as designations of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) levels;   identify the plurality of different potential values for number of paths in multipath data environments as any values representing potential numbers of paths in the multipath data environments; and   identify the plurality of different potential values for storage tier assignment as a plurality of tier designations for different categories of data.   
     
     
         17 . A medium as in  claim 16 , wherein the prioritization module is operable to:
 assign more important or more active categories of data are a higher priority value than less important or less active categories of data, wherein the tier designations for different categories of data are based on importance or activity of the different categories of data;   assign a higher priority value to greater numbers of paths in multipath data environments than lesser numbers of paths;   assign a higher priority to newer times at which the data backup requests were received than older times at which the data backup requests were received;   assign a higher priority value to priority designations than no priority designations; and   assign a higher priority value to RAID levels having greater redundancy than RAID levels having lesser redundancy.