Automatic identification of storage requirements, such as for use in selling data storage management solutions

Abstract

Systems and methods for demonstrating a replacement information management software for a computing system. The methods may include determining if existing information management software is installed in the computing system. The methods may include identifying computing devices of the computing system using information from the existing information management software. The methods may include simulating the replacement information management software with characteristics of the identified computing devices to enable a user to experience the replacement information management software prior to committing to installing the replacement information management software in the computing system. The methods may include automatically installing the replacement information management software. Other implementations are disclosed.

1 . A system for demonstrating a first information management software, which differs from an existing information management software, the system comprising:
 at least one hardware processor;   at least one data storage device, coupled to the at least one hardware processor, wherein the at least one data storage device stores instructions, which when executed by the at least one hardware processor, cause the at least one processor to execute a discovery agent that is configured to:   determine that a computing system receives information management services from the existing information management software, wherein the computing system comprises a managing computing device;   based on searching a file system of the managing computing device, locate a content file for the computing system, wherein the searching comprises traversing one or more predetermined paths hardcoded into the discovery agent, and wherein the content file is associated with the existing information management software;   based on the content file, determine that the computing system comprises networked components, including the managing computing device and one or more of: storage devices, server computing devices, and client computing devices;   extract characteristics of the networked components from the system content file; and   based on the characteristics of the networked components extracted from the system content file, simulate at least part of the first information management software, comprising displaying a user interface for the first information management software, wherein the user interface enables a user to experience the first information management software with simulated versions of one or more of the networked components.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent is further configured to: provide a list of software licenses for one or more of the networked components of the computing system to operate with the first information management software. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent is further configured to: install the first information management software onto one or more of the networked components to enable operation of the first information management software within the computing system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein simulating the first information management software is performed by a first computing device comprising the at least one hardware processor on which the discovery agent executes, and wherein the first computing device operates remotely from the computing system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent executes on a first computing device comprising the at least one hardware processor, and wherein the first computing device operates remotely from the computing system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface for the first information management software provides a selection of multiple configurations of one or more of the networked components for simulating the first information management software. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent is further configured to: copy the characteristics of the networked components into a database for use by the first information management software when installed in the computing system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent is further configured to: modify a copy of the content file associated with the existing information management system to make it compatible with the first information management system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent is further configured to: if the traversing of the one or more predetermined paths hardcoded into the discovery agent fails to find the content file for the computing system, search other directories of the file system to locate the content file for the computing system 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the discovery agent is further configured to: if the traversing of the one or more predetermined paths hardcoded into the discovery agent fails to find the content file for the computing system, receive a file system path to the content file via the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first information management software, when installed in the computing system, manages data storage policies, data recovery policies, data retention policies, data archiving policies, and data life-cycle management for data in the computing system. 
     
     
         12 . A method for demonstrating a first information management software, which differs from an existing information management software, the method comprising:
 by a discovery agent that executes on a first computing device comprising at least one hardware processor and computer memory, determining that a computing system receives information management services from the existing information management software, wherein the computing system comprises a managing computing device;   by the discovery agent, based on searching a file system of the managing computing device, locating a content file for the computing system, wherein the searching comprises traversing one or more predetermined paths hardcoded into the discovery agent, and wherein the content file is associated with the existing information management software;   by the discovery agent, based on the content file, determining that the computing system comprises networked components, including the managing computing device and one or more of: storage devices, server computing devices, and client computing devices;   by the discovery agent, extracting characteristics of the networked components from the system content file; and   by the discovery agent, based on the characteristics of the networked components extracted from the system content file, causing to simulate at least part of the first information management software, comprising displaying a user interface for the first information management software, wherein the user interface enables a user to experience the first information management software with simulated versions of one or more of the networked components.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: by the discovery agent, providing a list of software licenses for one or more of the networked components of the computing system to operate with the first information management software. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: by discovery agent, causing to install the first information management software onto one or more of the networked components to enable operation of the first information management software within the computing system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first computing device is not part of the networked components of the computing system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first computing device is one of the networked components of the computing system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first computing device is the managing computing device of the computing system, and wherein the discovery agent executes on the managing computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: by the discovery agent, copying the characteristics of the networked components into a database for use by the first information management software, when installed in the computing system, to manage and protect data in the computing system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: by the discovery agent, modifying a copy of the content file associated with the existing information management system into a resulting first content file that is compatible with the first information management system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: by the discovery agent, if the traversing of the one or more predetermined paths hardcoded into the discovery agent fails to find the content file for the computing system, one or more of: search other directories of the file system to locate the content file for the computing system, and receive a file system path to the content file via the user interface.