Methods for integrating applications with a data storage network and devices thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016150015-A1
Application number	US-201414553344-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2014
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and application server computing device that receives a request identifying an operation to be performed on an application and a plugin associated with the application. The operation corresponds to an application task in a workflow for a data storage network action. An operating system call is generated to execute the plugin, wherein the call comprises at least one argument that identifies the operation. A standard-out output is obtained from the plugin, wherein the output comprises at least an indication of a status of the operation. The output is parsed, a result object is generated based on the parsed output, and the result object is returned in response to the received request. The result object includes at least the indication of the status of the operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for integrating applications with a data storage network, the method comprising:
receiving, by an application server computing device, a request identifying an operation to be performed on an application and a plugin associated with the application, wherein the operation corresponds to an application task in a workflow for a data storage network action; generating, by the application server computing device, an operating system call to execute the plugin, wherein the call comprises at least one argument that identifies the operation; obtaining, by the application server computing device, a standard-out output from the plugin, wherein the output comprises at least an indication of a status of the operation; and parsing, by the application server computing device, the output, generating a result object based on the parsed output, and returning the result object in response to the received request, the result object including at least the indication of the status of the operation.

2 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the output corresponds to a predefined syntax irrespective of a programming language associated with the plugin.

3 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the request is received from a backup host server computing device at a representational state transfer (REST) endpoint accessible by the backup host server computing device and the result object is returned to the backup host server computing device.

4 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the data storage network action comprises at least one of a backup, a restore, or a clone.

5 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the operation is one of a predefined minimum set of operations required to be implemented by the plugin or an optional operation and the required minimum set of operations comprises at least a quiesce operation, an unquiesce operation, and a describe operation.

6 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the generating comprises generating a runtime environment for the plugin in a new process.

7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for integrating applications with a data storage network comprising executable code which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving a request identifying an operation to be performed on an application and a plugin associated with the application, wherein the operation corresponds to an application task in a workflow for a data storage network action; generating an operating system call to execute the plugin, wherein the call comprises at least one argument that identifies the operation; obtaining a standard-out output from the plugin, wherein the output comprises at least an indication of a status of the operation; and parsing the output, generating a result object based on the parsed output, and returning the result object in response to the received request, the result object including at least the indication of the status of the operation.

8 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the output corresponds to a predefined syntax irrespective of a programming language associated with the plugin.

9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the request is received from a backup host server computing device at a representational state transfer (REST) endpoint accessible by the backup host server computing device and the result object is returned to the backup host server computing device.

10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the data storage network action comprises at least one of a backup, a restore, or a clone.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the operation is one of a predefined minimum set of operations required to be implemented by the plugin or an optional operation and the required minimum set of operations comprises at least a quiesce operation, an unquiesce operation, and a describe operation.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the generating comprises generating a runtime environment for the plugin in a new process.

13 . An application server computing device, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor which is configured to be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to:
receive a request identifying an operation to be performed on an application and a plugin associated with the application, wherein the operation corresponds to an application task in a workflow for a data storage network action; generate an operating system call to execute the plugin, wherein the call comprises at least one argument that identifies the operation; obtain a standard-out output from the plugin, wherein the output comprises at least an indication of a status of the operation; and parse the output, generate a result object based on the parsed output, and return the result object in response to the received request, the result object including at least the indication of the status of the operation.

14 . The application server computing device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the output corresponds to a predefined syntax irrespective of a programming language associated with the plugin.

15 . The application server computing device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the request is received from a backup host server computing device at a representational state transfer (REST) endpoint accessible by the backup host server computing device and the result object is returned to the backup host server computing device.

16 . The application server computing device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the data storage network action comprises at least one of a backup, a restore, or a clone.

17 . The application server computing device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the operation is one of a predefined minimum set of operations required to be implemented by the plugin or an optional operation and the required minimum set of operations comprises at least a quiesce operation, an unquiesce operation, and a describe operation.

18 . The application server computing device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the processor coupled to the memory is further configured to be capable of executing at least one additional programmed instruction further comprising and stored in the memory to generate a runtime environment for the plugin in a new process.

Assignees

• Netapp Inc

Inventors

• Tenzer Keith
• Fouts Charles M
• Siebler Clemens

Classifications

• H04L67/1095

  Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes · CPC title

• H04L41/0803

  Configuration setting · CPC title

• H04L67/1097 Primary

  for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS] · CPC title

• H04L41/085

  Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history · CPC title