System and methods for implementing a server-based hierarchical mass storage system

Abstract

Setting up and supporting the computer infrastructure for a remote satellite office is a difficult task for any information technology department. To simplify the task, an integrated server system with a hierarchical storage system is proposed. The hierarchical storage system includes the ability to store data at an off-site cloud storage service. The server system is remotely configurable and thus allows the server to be configured and populated with data from a remote location.

1 . An office server system comprising:
 a network interface;   a hierarchical storage stack for storing data comprising:   at least one local data storage layer for storing data locally in the office server system; and   a remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service; and   an administration component that allows remote configuration and control of the hierarchical storage stack, wherein the administration component is remotely accessed through the network interface to configure the office server system.   
     
     
         2 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in solid-state memory and a second local data storage layer that stores data on a hard disk drive. 
     
     
         3 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a raw format and a second local data storage layer that stores data in a format with duplicate data removed. 
     
     
         4 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the remote data storage service comprises an off-site data storage provider. 
     
     
         5 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the administration component periodically polls the at least one local data storage layer and the remote data storage layer to generate statistics representing performance of the hierarchical storage stack. 
     
     
         6 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hierarchical storage stack further comprises a storage area network (SAN) interface layer that receives storage requests from local systems in the SAN. 
     
     
         7 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the SAN interface layer uses at least one of the Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol or the Fiber Channel Protocol (FCP) clients to perform at least one of start, stop, read, write, or format operations on data storage units. 
     
     
         8 . The office server system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hierarchical storage stack further comprises a volume abstraction layer that handles volume management tasks including at least one of tracking data volumes that exist, tracking sizes of individual data volumes, or maintaining access control lists (ACLs). 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling an office server system, the method comprising:
 installing an office server system at an office, the office server system comprising a hierarchical storage stack for storing data, the hierarchical storage stack comprising at least one local data storage layer for storing data locally in the office server system, a remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service, and an administration component;   coupling the office server system to a network accessed through a network interface; and   remotely accessing the administration component through the network interface, wherein the administration component allows remote configuration and control of the hierarchical storage stack.   
     
     
         10 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in solid-state memory and a second local data storage layer that stores data on a hard disk drive. 
     
     
         11 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a raw format and a second local data storage layer that stores data in a format with duplicate data removed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the remote data storage service comprises an off-site data storage provider. 
     
     
         13 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising periodically polling, by the administration component, the at least one local data storage layer and the remote data storage layer to generate statistics representing performance of the hierarchical storage stack. 
     
     
         14 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the hierarchical storage stack further comprises a storage area network (SAN) interface layer and further comprising receiving storage requests from local systems in the SAN. 
     
     
         15 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the SAN interface layer uses at least one of the Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol or the Fiber Channel Protocol (FCP) clients to perform at least one of start, stop, read, write, or format operations on data storage units. 
     
     
         16 . The method of controlling an office server system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the hierarchical storage stack further comprises a volume abstraction layer that handles volume management tasks and further comprising, by the volume abstraction layer, at least one of tracking data volumes that exist, tracking sizes of individual data volumes, or maintaining access control lists (ACLs). 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform the operations of:
 installing an office server system at an office, the office server system comprising a hierarchical storage stack for storing data, the hierarchical storage stack comprising at least one local data storage layer for storing data locally in the office server system, a remote data storage layer that stores data with a remote data storage service, and an administration component;   coupling the office server system to a network accessed through a network interface; and remotely accessing the administration component through the network interface, wherein the administration component allows remote configuration and control of the hierarchical storage stack.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one local data storage layer comprises a first local data storage layer that stores data in a raw format and a second local data storage layer that stores data in a format with duplicate data removed. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the remote data storage service comprises an off-site data storage provider. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise periodically polling, by the administration component, the at least one local data storage layer and the remote data storage layer to generate statistics representing performance of the hierarchical storage stack.