Handling user queries against production and archive storage systems, such as for enterprise customers having large and/or numerous files

Abstract

This application discloses a system for processing requests for data in production and archive/backup databases. The system stores a mapping of data in production and archive databases to multiple different data storage locations, including a production system storing at least one production database and an archive system storing at least one archive database. The system receives a data request from an application component, which manages or receives data from a user interface and has received the data request directly from the user interface. The system translates the data request to one or more database queries based on the mapping. The system causes to execute the database queries against data on the production or archive system. The system returns a result of executing the one or more database queries to the application component, where the application component returns the result to the user via the user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing requests for data residing in a plurality of data stores, the method comprising:
 maintaining a mapping of data that is divided among a plurality of database systems residing in correspondingly distinct data storage devices, wherein the plurality of database systems comprises a primary data storage system and a secondary data storage system;   receiving a data request directed to the primary data storage system;   determining that data needed to satisfy the data request is stored in the secondary storage system based on the maintained mapping of data;   translating the data request into a first query directed to the primary data storage system;   translating the data request into a second query directed to the secondary data storage system; and,   combining first results received from the first query with second results received from the second query into a combined query result that is responsive to the data request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a database driver gate is configured to interface with one or more database drivers for accessing the plurality of database systems, wherein the database driver gate translates the data request into the first query. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein data on each of the plurality of database systems is managed by a separate database management system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring data migration between the primary data storage system and the secondary data storage system; and   updating the mapping according to the data migration detected by the monitoring.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring data migration between the primary data storage system and the secondary data storage system; and   updating the mapping according to the data migration detected by the monitoring, wherein the monitoring includes communicating with a data agent that assists in copying, archiving, migrating, and/or replicating data from the primary data storage system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving at a reporting server a copy of metadata from the primary data storage system;   receiving, at the reporting server, a request for a report of data on the primary data storage system; and   generating the report of data on the primary data storage system using the copy of metadata received from the primary data storage system.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting the combined query result via a user interface. 
     
     
         8 . A system for processing requests for data residing in a plurality of data stores, the system comprising:
 one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and,   one or more processors that, having executed the computer-executable instructions, configure the system to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
 maintaining a mapping of data that is divided among a plurality of database systems residing in correspondingly distinct data storage devices, wherein the plurality of database systems comprises a primary data storage system and a secondary data storage system; 
 receiving a data request directed to the primary data storage system; 
 determining that data needed to satisfy the data request is stored in the secondary storage system based on the maintained mapping of data; 
 translating the data request into a first query directed to the primary data storage system; 
 translating the data request into a second query directed to the secondary data storage system; and, 
 combining first results received from the first query with second results received from the second query into a combined query result that is responsive to the data request. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a database driver gate configured to interface with one or more database drivers for accessing the plurality of database systems, wherein the database driver gate translates the data request into the first query. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein data on each of the plurality of database systems is managed by a separate database management system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 monitoring data migration between the primary data storage system and the secondary data storage system; and   updating the mapping according to the data migration detected by the monitoring.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 monitoring data migration between the primary data storage system and the secondary data storage system; and   updating the mapping according to the data migration detected by the monitoring, wherein the monitoring includes communicating with a data agent that assists in copying, archiving, migrating, and/or replicating data from the primary data storage system.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 receiving at a reporting server a copy of metadata from the primary data storage system;   receiving, at the reporting server, a request for a report of data on the primary data storage system; and   generating the report of data on the primary data storage system using the copy of metadata received from the primary data storage system.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises presenting the combined query result via a user interface wherein the computing device is a storage manager. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory, computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
 maintaining a mapping of data that is divided among a plurality of database systems residing in correspondingly distinct data storage devices, wherein the plurality of database systems comprises a primary data storage system and a secondary data storage system;   receiving a data request directed to the primary data storage system;   determining that data needed to satisfy the data request is stored in the secondary storage system based on the maintained mapping of data;   translating the data request into a first query directed to the primary data storage system;   translating the data request into a second query directed to the secondary data storage system; and,   combining first results received from the first query with second results received from the second query into a combined query result that is responsive to the data request.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises a database driver gate configured to interface with one or more database drivers for accessing the plurality of database systems, wherein the database driver gate translates the data request into the first query. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein data on each of the plurality of database systems is managed by a separate database management system. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 monitoring data migration between the primary data storage system and the secondary data storage system; and   updating the mapping according to the data migration detected by the monitoring.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 monitoring data migration between the primary data storage system and the secondary data storage system; and   updating the mapping according to the data migration detected by the monitoring, wherein the monitoring includes communicating with a data agent that assists in copying, archiving, migrating, and/or replicating data from the primary data storage system.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 receiving at a reporting server a copy of metadata from the primary data storage system;   receiving, at the reporting server, a request for a report of data on the primary data storage system; and   generating the report of data on the primary data storage system using the copy of metadata received from the primary data storage system.