Backup and replication configuration using replication topology

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9600376-B1
Application number	US-201213539618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2012
Priority date	Jul 2, 2012
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Various systems and methods for configuring backup and replication operations. For example, a method involves a backup system receiving storage configuration information regarding a replication topology of a storage system. The backup system uses the storage configuration information to configure a backup operation. The backup operation is configured in accord with specifications included in backup information. Configuring the backup operation includes selecting a source volume and a target volume, using the storage configuration information. Once the backup operation is configured, the backup operation is initiated. Performing the backup operation involves creating a backup image on the selected source volume and replicating the backup image to the selected target volume.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving storage configuration information associated with a plurality of volumes at a backup system, wherein
the backup system is configured to receive the storage configuration information from a storage system,
the storage configuration information is created and maintained exclusively by the storage system separately from the backup system and the plurality of volumes, and
the storage configuration information comprises replication topology information that describes one or more replication relationships between two or more of the plurality of volumes maintained by the storage system;

configuring a backup operation to be performed using the plurality of volumes, wherein
the configuring is performed by the backup system and is based on backup information and the storage configuration information, and
the configuring comprises selecting a source volume from the plurality of volumes;

selecting a target volume from the plurality of volumes, wherein
the selecting is based on the storage configuration information; and

initiating the backup operation in the storage system, wherein
the initiating the backup operation comprises the backup system transmitting a command to the storage system,
the command causes the storage system to perform the backup operation in response to receiving the command, and
the backup operation comprises
creating a backup image on the source volume, and

replicating the backup image from the source volume to the target volume.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the backup information comprises a service level agreement (SLA),
the SLA comprises one or more data protection requirements, and
the selecting is based, at least in part, on one or more data protection requirements.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
detecting whether the target volume supports a first type of replication, wherein
the service level agreement specifies the first type of replication, and
the detecting comprises reading a flag value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring the backup operation; and
requesting additional storage configuration information from a storage management server, wherein
the storage management server is implemented separately and independently from the backup system and the storage system, and
the requesting is performed in response to detecting that the backup operation has failed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the storage configuration information identifies the one or more replication relationships between the source volume and the target volume.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the initiating is performed in response to receiving a backup request, and
the backup request specifies a replication attribute.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a replication topology change, wherein
the storage configuration information is updated in response to the detecting the replication topology change; and

requesting additional storage configuration information in response to the detecting the replication topology change.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
validating the target volume against the source volume, wherein
the validating comprises detecting a replication relationship between the target volume and the source volume.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying information identifying the target volume in response to the selecting the source volume.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a query, wherein
the query comprises information identifying the source volume; and

displaying information identifying a portion of the storage configuration information in response to the receiving the query.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program instructions executable to:
receive storage configuration information associated with a plurality of volumes at a backup system, wherein
the backup system is configured to receive the storage configuration information from a storage system,
the storage configuration information is created and maintained exclusively by the storage system separately from the backup system and the plurality of volumes, and
the storage configuration information comprises replication topology information that describes one or more replication relationships between two or more of the plurality of volumes maintained by the storage system;

configure a backup operation to be performed using the plurality of volumes, wherein
configuring the backup operation is performed by the backup system and is based on backup information and the storage configuration information, and
configuring the backup operation comprises selecting a source volume from the plurality of volumes;

select a target volume from the plurality of volumes, wherein
selecting the target volume is based on the storage configuration information; and

initiate the backup operation in the storage system, wherein
initiating the backup operation comprises the backup system transmitting a command to the storage system,
the command causes the storage system to perform the backup operation in response to receiving the command, and
the backup operation comprises
creating a backup image on the source volume, and
replicating the backup image from the source volume to the target volume.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
monitor the backup operation; and
request additional storage configuration information from a storage management server, wherein
the storage management server is implemented separately and independently from the backup system and the storage system, and
requesting additional storage configuration information is performed in response to detecting that the backup operation has failed.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein
the storage configuration information identifies a replication relationship between the source volume and the target volume.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
generate the storage configuration information, wherein
generating the storage configuration information is performed in response to a query from the backup system,
generating the storage configuration information comprises discovering a replication topology of the storage system, and
the storage system comprises the plurality of volumes.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
detect a replication topology change, wherein
the storage configuration information is updated in response to detecting the replication topology change; and

request additional storage configuration information in response to detecting the replication topology change.

16. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
receive storage configuration information associated with a plurality of volumes at a backup system, wherein
the backup system is configured to receive the storage configuration information from a storage system,
the storage configuration information is created and maintained exclusively by the storage system separately from the backup system and the plurality of volumes, and
the storage configuration information c

Assignees

• Krinke Ii Thomas L
• Stryker Donald James
• Olofson Michael Lee
• Sekhon Raman Reet
• Veritas Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Krinke Ii Thomas L
• Stryker Donald James
• Olofson Michael Lee
• Sekhon Raman Reet

Classifications

• G06F11/1456

  Hardware arrangements for backup · CPC title

• G06F11/1464 Primary

  for networked environments · CPC title

• G06F11/3034

  where the computing system component is a storage system, e.g. DASD based or network based (digital input from or digital output to record carriers G06F3/06; digital recording or reproducing G11B20/18; 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], H04L67/1097) · CPC title

• G06F11/2094

  Redundant storage or storage space (G06F11/2056 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F11/1458 Primary

  Management of the backup or restore process · CPC title