Synchronizing selected portions of data in a storage management system

Abstract

Disclosed methods and systems leverage resources in a storage management system to partially synchronize primary data files based on synchronizing selected portions thereof without regard to changes that may be occurring in other non-synchronized portions. Accordingly, a number of primary data files may be partially synchronized by synchronizing designated portions thereof via auto-restore operations from backup data. This approach relies on storage management resources to designate portions of source data that is to be kept synchronized across any number of targets; detect changes to the designated portions; back up changes to secondary storage; and distribute the changes from secondary storage to the associated targets, with minimal impact to the primary data environment. The approach may be mutually applied, so that changes in any one of an associated group of source data files may be likewise detected, backed up, and distributed to the other members of the group.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage management system for partially synchronizing primary data files comprising:
 a storage manager;   a first computing device, in communication with the storage manager, comprising a first data agent and a primary storage device, wherein the primary storage device comprises a primary data file in a primary storage file format;   at least one second computing device, in communication with the storage manager, wherein the at least one second computing device comprises a second data agent and a second primary storage device, and wherein the second primary storage device comprises a second primary data file wherein the second primary data file is in a primary storage file format, and wherein the second primary data file is distinct from the primary data file; and   at least one secondary storage computing device, in communication with the storage manager, comprising a media agent and secondary storage device; and   wherein the storage manager manages the association of a portion of the primary data file and a portion of the second primary data file; and   wherein a portion of the primary data file is backed up as a secondary copy in the secondary storage computing device; and   wherein the secondary copy from the secondary storage is transferred to the associated portion of the second primary data file in a primary file format.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the association of a portion of the primary data file and a portion of the second primary data file is identified by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage manager generates metadata comprising the association between the portion of the primary data file and the portion of the second primary data file based on user identification. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage manager communicates metadata comprising the association between the portion of the primary data file and the portion of the second primary data file to the first data agent and second data agent. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data agent monitors for changes to the portion of the first primary data file and communicates any changes to the storage manager. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second data agent monitors for changes to the portion of the second primary data file and communicates any changes to the storage manager. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the backing up comprises:
 a) interoperating of the first data agent with the media agent to generate a secondary copy of the portion of the primary data and wherein the secondary copy is in a secondary file format, and   b) storing the secondary copy to the secondary storage device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer of the secondary copy from the secondary storage comprises interoperating of the second data agent with the media agent. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage manager further comprises a synchronization database, a partial synchronization manager, and a jobs agent. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device and second computing device further comprises change log monitor and system change log. 
     
     
         11 . A storage management system for partially synchronizing primary data files comprising:
 a storage manager;   a first computing device, in communication with the storage manager, comprising a first data agent and a primary storage device, wherein the primary storage device comprises a primary data file in a primary storage file format and wherein the primary data file comprises a plurality of portions of primary data file;   at least one second computing device, in communication with the storage manager, wherein the at least one second computing device comprises a second data agent and a second primary storage device, and wherein the second primary storage device comprises a second primary data file wherein the second primary data file is in a primary storage file format, and wherein the second primary data file is distinct from the primary data file and wherein the second primary data file comprise a plurality of portions of second primary data file; and   at least one secondary storage computing device, in communication with the storage manager, comprising a media agent and secondary storage device; and   wherein the storage manager manages the association of a plurality of portions of the primary data file and a corresponding plurality of portions of the second primary data file; and   wherein the plurality of portions of the primary data file are backed up as secondary copies in the secondary storage computing device; and   wherein the secondary copies from the secondary storage are transferred to the associated plurality of portions of the second primary data file in a primary file format.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the backing up comprises:
 a) interoperating of the first data agent with the media agent to generate a secondary copy of the plurality portions of the primary data and wherein the secondary copy of the plurality of portions of the primary data are in a secondary file format, and   b) storing the secondary copies of the plurality of portions of the primary data to the secondary storage device.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the transfer of the secondary copy from the secondary storage comprises interoperating of the second data agent with the media agent. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first data agent receives from the storage manager a plurality of metadata identifying the plurality of portions of the first primary data file. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second data agent receives from the storage manager a plurality of metadata identifying the plurality of portions of the second primary data file. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second data agent monitors changes to at least one of the plurality of the portions of the second primary data file. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first primary data file and the second primary data file are distinct from each other. 
     
     
         18 . A storage management system for partially synchronizing primary data files comprising:
 a storage manager;   a first computing device, in communication with the storage manager, comprising a first data agent and a primary storage device, wherein the primary storage device comprises a primary data file in a primary storage file format;   at least one second computing device in communication with the storage manager, wherein the at least one second computing device comprises a second data agent and a second primary storage device, and wherein the second primary storage device comprises a second primary data file wherein the second primary data file is in a primary storage file format, and wherein the second primary data file is distinct from the primary data file; and   at least one secondary storage computing device in communication with the storage manager, comprising a media agent and secondary storage device; and   wherein the storage manager manages the association of a portion of the primary data file and a portion of the second primary data file; and   wherein a portion of the primary data file is backed up as a secondary copy in the secondary storage computing device; and   wherein the secondary copy from the secondary storage is restored into the associated portion of the second primary data file in a primary file format; and   wherein the first primary data file and the second primary data file are partially synchronized.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the backing up comprises:
 a) interoperating of the first data agent with the media agent to generate a secondary copy of the portion of the primary data and wherein the secondary copy of the portion of the primary data are in a secondary file format, and   b) storing the secondary copies of the portions of the primary data to the secondary storage device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the restored comprises the data agent interoperating with the media agent to retrieve the secondary copy from the secondary storage device and transfer the secondary copy to the second primary data file associated with the first primary data file to generate the partially synchronize second primary data file and wherein the partially synchronized second primary data file is in primary file format.