Automated grouping of computing devices in a networked data storage system

Abstract

According to certain aspects, systems and methods are provided for grouping clients together in a networked data storage environment. For instance, clients can be grouped together based on the software installed on the client or the client type. Each client group can be configured to maintain the configuration of clients within the client group. For example, one client group can be configured to ensure that a particular software suite remains up-to-date. Another client group can be configured to ensure that data within a particular directory or on a particular storage device associated with each client of the client group is backed up each night.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of managing a set of client computing devices in a networked data storage environment, the method comprising:
 electronically accessing from a data store, grouping criteria for grouping a plurality of client computing devices that form a client pool into client groups, the client groups comprising different priority levels, and wherein the grouping criteria comprise a plurality of grouping rules of different weights;   comparing a set of characteristics associated with a first client of the plurality of client computing devices to the grouping criteria to obtain the plurality of grouping rules that the first client satisfies;   notifying a user, with a graphical user interface, when the set of characteristics associated with the first client does not satisfy the plurality of grouping rules;   modifying the first client to conform to at least a first client group and a second client group;   when the first client group and a second client group have conflicting configuration rules, selecting a set of configuration rules to follow based on the different priority levels of the client groups; and   automatically copying, based on one or more storage policies associated with the set of configuration rules, production data generated by the first client stored in a native format to create one or more secondary copies of the production data in secondary storage in a secondary storage format.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving user input from the graphical user interface that creates a new client group for the first client. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving user input from the graphical user interface that assigns the first client to a default area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving user input from the graphical user interface that modifies at least one of the client groups. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 in response to a second client being added to the client pool, comparing with one or more processors, a set of characteristics associated with the second client with the grouping criteria;   based on the comparing, assigning the second client to the first client group; and   configuring of the second client according to the set of configuration rules.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, in response to a modification in the set of configuration rules, initiating re-configuration of the first client according to the modification in the set of configuration rules. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 in response to creation of a changed set of characteristics associated with the first client, comparing with one or more processors, the changed set of characteristics associated with the first client to the grouping criteria; and   if the comparing of the changed set of characteristics to the grouping criteria indicates that the first client should no longer be assigned to the first client group, disassociating the first client from the first client group.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the graphical user interface enables the user to define grouping criteria rules. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving modified grouping criteria for grouping the plurality of client computing devices; and   comparing, by one or more processors, the set of characteristics associated with the first client of the plurality of client computing devices to the modified grouping criteria to obtain a second comparison result.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising assigning the first client to a client group of the client groups based on the second comparison result. 
     
     
         12 . A system for managing a set of client computing devices in a networked data storage environment, the system comprising:
 data storage configured to store grouping criteria for grouping a plurality of client computing devices that form a client pool into client groups, the client groups comprising different priority levels, and wherein the grouping criteria comprise a plurality of grouping rules of different weights;   the data storage further configured to store configuration rules for configuring client computing devices;   computer hardware comprising one or more computer processors and configured to:
 compare a set of characteristics associated with a first client of the plurality of client computing devices to the grouping criteria to obtain the plurality of grouping rules that the first client satisfies; and 
 notifying a user, with a graphical user interface, when the set of characteristics associated with the first client does not satisfy the plurality of grouping rules; 
 modify the first client to conform to at least a first client group and a second client group; 
 select, when the first client group and the second client group have conflicting configuration rules, a set of configuration rules to follow based on the different priority levels of the client groups; and 
 automatically copy, based on one or more storage policies associated with the set of configuration rules, production data generated by the first client stored in the native format to create one or more secondary copies of the production data in secondary storage in a secondary storage format. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to receive user input from the graphical user interface that creates a new client group for the first client. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to receive user input from the graphical user interface that assigns the first client to a default area. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to receive user input from the graphical user interface that modifies at least one of the client groups. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to:
 compare, in response to a second client being added to the client pool, a set of characteristics associated with the second client with the grouping criteria; 
 assign, based on the comparing, the second client to the first client group; and 
 configure the second client according to the set of configuration rules. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to initiate, in response to a modification in the set of configuration rules, re-configuration of the first client according to the modification in the set of configuration rules. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to:
 compare, in response to creation of a changed set of characteristics associated with the first client, the changed set of characteristics associated with the first client to the grouping criteria; and 
 if the comparing of the changed set of characteristics to the grouping criteria indicates that the first client should no longer be assigned to the first client group, disassociate the first client from the first client group. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the graphical user interface enables the user to define grouping criteria rules. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to:
 receive modified grouping criteria for grouping the plurality of client computing devices; and 
 compare the set of characteristics associated with the first client of the plurality of client computing devices to the modified grouping criteria to obtain a second comparison result. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the one or more computer processors is further configured to assign the first client to a client group of the client groups based on the second comparison result.