Systems and methods for restoring data from network attached storage

Abstract

A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and routing data in storage operation systems using network attached storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a management module and a media management component connected to the management server, which interoperate with network attached storage devices to provide the communicating, browsing, verifying and routing functions.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for browsing data in a storage system, the method comprising:
 receiving at one or more media agents comprising computer hardware, a request to browse a plurality of files stored in a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein browsing displays one or more of the plurality of files in a first format associated with a first file management system, the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device comprises a second file management system that is different than the first file management system;   directing with the one or more media agents, a file processor remotely located from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device to retrieve a data structure from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein a data structure is retrieved with the second file management system, the data structure comprising at least a header and a chunk of data, the header comprising at least a set of file markers that identify the plurality of files in a chunk of data in the data structure, the data structure further comprising at least metadata about the plurality of files in the chunk of data;   obtaining, with the file processor, the metadata in the data structure about the plurality of files in the chunk of data;   displaying in a graphical user interface one or more of the plurality of files in the first format associated with the first file management system based on the metadata obtained from the chunk of data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the data structure retrieved from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device is verified by comparing the data structure to an index accessible by the one or more media agents. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a file server receives the data structure from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device via a first network protocol and restores one or more of the plurality of files to a storage device via a second network protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first network protocol is a Network Data Management Protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the chunk of data further comprises a trailer further comprises a second set of set of file markers that identify the plurality of files in the chunk of data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising browsing the plurality of files in the chunk of data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more media agents store the metadata in an index. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising identifying the data structure stored on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device based at least in part on the index. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining whether the data structure stored on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device is part of an incremental backup of the plurality of files. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the index identifies the path of the data structure on Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device that contains the plurality of files. 
     
     
         12 . A system for managing data in a storage system, the system comprising:
 one or more media agents comprising computer hardware that receives a request to browse a plurality of files stored in a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein browsing the plurality of files displays the files in a format associated with the first file management system, the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device comprises a second file management system that is different than the first file management system;   a file server comprising computer hardware that is remotely located from a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, the file server in communication with the one or more media agents, the file server configured to:
 retrieve a data structure from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein a first data structure is retrieved with the second file management system, the first data structure comprising at least a header and a chunk of data, the header comprising at least a set of file markers that identify the plurality of files in a chunk of data in the data structure, the data structure further comprising metadata about the plurality of files in the chunk of data; 
 obtain the metadata in the data structure about the plurality of files in the chunk of data; and 
   one or more computer processors configured to display a graphical user interface that displays the plurality of files in the format associated with the first file management system based on the metadata obtained from the chunk of data.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a verification component comprising computer hardware that verifies the data structure retrieved from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device by comparing the data structure to the index accessible by the one or more media agents. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the file server receives the data structure from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device via a first network protocol and restores one or more of the plurality of files to a storage device via a second network protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the first network protocol is a Network Data Management Protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the trailer further comprises a second set of set of file markers that identify the plurality of files in the chunk of data. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors browse the plurality of files in the chunk of data by accessing the metadata. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more media agents store the metadata in an index. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising identifying the data structure stored on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device based at least in part on the index. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more media agents determines whether the data structure stored on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device is part of an incremental backup of the plurality of files. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the index identifies the path of the data structure on Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device that contains the plurality of files.