Browsing data stored in a backup format

Abstract

The disclosed techniques enable browsing of data items that are stored in a backup storage system in a backup format. A search query from a user is received where the search query is for a data item stored in a data storage system, such as a tape drive, a disk array, or a cloud-based storage system. The system may use an index to look up a location of the data item and data format of the data item. To present the data to the user, the system may perform a restoration operation to convert the data format to a format that can be presented to the user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for enabling browsing of data items stored in a storage system, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor and a memory, a search query for a data item stored in the storage system, wherein the data item is archived and stored in a first data format associated with archiving the data in the storage system;   querying a first index table of the storage system for an entry corresponding to the data item, wherein the first index table includes information regarding data stored within the storage system, wherein the entry in the first index table provides a first information about nesting of data formats associated with the data item stored in the storage system and a second information about locating of the data item corresponding to a respective data format in a second index table of the storage system, and wherein the second index table is different from the first index table;   determining, based on the entry in the first index table, that the data item has a second data format associated with a type of secondary copy of the data item, and   identifying, based on the entry in the first index table {you need this modifier to avoid ambiguity with the queried-for entry}, the location of the data item corresponding to the second data format in the second index table within the storage system, wherein the second data format is nested within the first data format which is associated with archiving of the data item; and   performing, by the computing device, a restoration operation that restores the data item from the first data format to a third data format for presentation, wherein the first data format, the second data format, and the third data format are different from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the restoration operation comprises:
 a first data staging operation in which the data item in the first data format is staged into the second data format and stored at the computing device; and 
 a second data staging operation in which the data item in the second data format at the computing device is staged to the third data format for presentation. 
 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the entry in the first index table comprises a pointer pointing to a storage location of the data item in the second index table. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3  further comprising determining a change in a storage location of the data item based on modification of the data item. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4  further comprising updating the entry in the first index table based on the modification of the data item. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5  wherein the updating the entry in the first index table comprises directing the pointer to the changed storage location of the data item. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising allowing direct access to the data item based on the information from the entry of the first index table. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the entry in the first index table includes an archive file identification number that is {this seems like an unnecessary modifier that would need to be explained} associated with an archive file format. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the first data format is a tape drive format, the second data format is a snapshot format and the third data format is a data presentation format. 
     
     
         10 . A data storage system configured for enabling browsing of data items stored in a storage system, the system comprising computer memory and a processor communicably coupled to the computer memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a search query for a data item stored in the storage system, wherein the data item is archived and stored in a first data format that is associated with archiving the data in the storage system;   query a first index table of the storage system for an entry corresponding to the data item, wherein the first index table includes information regarding data stored within the storage system, wherein the entry in the first index table provides a first information about nesting of data formats associated with the data item stored in the storage system and a second information about locating of the data item corresponding to a respective data format in a second index table of the storage system, and wherein the second index table is different from the first index table;   determine based on the entry in the first index table, that the data item has a second data format associated with a type of secondary copy of the data item, and   identify, based on the entry in the first index table, the location of the data item corresponding to the second data format in the second index table within the storage system, wherein the second data format is nested within the first data format which is associated with archiving of the data item; and   perform a restoration operation that restores the data item from the first data format to a third data format for presentation, wherein the first data format, the second data format, and the third data format are different from each other.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the restoration operation comprises:
 a first data staging operation in which the data item in the first data format is staged into the second data format and stored at a client computing device; and 
 a second data staging operation in which the data item in the second data format at the computing device is staged to the third data format for presentation. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the entry in the first index table comprises a pointer pointing to a storage location of the data item in the second index table. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the processor is configured to determine a change in the storage location of the data item based on modification of the data item. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the processor is configured to update the entry in the first index table based on the modification of the data item. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein to update the entry in the first index table, the processor is configured to direct the pointer to the changed storage location of the data item. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to allow direct access to the data item based on the information from the entry of the first index table. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the entry in the first index table includes an archive file identification number that is pre-associated with an archive file format. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the first data format is a tape drive format, the second data format is a snapchat format and the third data format is a data presentation format. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:
 receive a search query for a data item stored in a storage system, wherein the data item is archived and stored in a first data format that is associated with archiving data in the storage system;   query a first index table of the storage system for an entry corresponding to the data item, wherein the first index table includes information regarding data stored within the storage system, wherein the entry in the first index table provides a first information about nesting of data formats associated with the data item stored in the storage system and a second information about locating of the data item corresponding to a respective data format in a second index table of the archive storage system, and wherein the second index table is different from the first index table;   determine based on the entry in the first index table, that the data item has a second data format associated with a type of secondary copy of the data item, and   identify, based on the entry in the first index table, the location of the data item corresponding to the second data format in the second index table within the storage system, wherein the second data format is nested within the first data format which is associated with archiving of the data item; and   perform a restoration operation that restores the data item from the first data format to a third data format for presentation to the user, wherein the first data format, the second data format, and the third data format are different from each other.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein to perform the restoration operation, the software instructions further cause the computing device to:
 perform a first data staging operation in which the data item in the first data format is staged into the second data format and stored at a client computing device; and 
 perform a second data staging operation in which the data item in the second data format at the computing device is staged to the third data format for presentation.