Emulated storage system

Abstract

Systems and methods for efficient storage of data are provided. For instance, a method that includes acts of receiving a data stream to be stored on a first storage system, the data stream comprising a data object and metadata that describes attributes of the data object, extracting the metadata from the data stream, storing the data object on the first storage system and storing the extracted metadata, separately from the data object, on a computer-readable medium is disclosed. Additionally, a storage system is disclosed that includes a first storage medium, an interface configured to receive a data stream including a data object to be stored on the first storage medium and a controller. The controller may be configured to extract metadata from the data stream, the metadata being descriptive of attributes of the data object, and to direct the extracted metadata to be stored on a computer-readable medium.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a data stream to be stored on a first storage system, the data stream comprising a data object and metadata that describes attributes of the data object;   extracting the metadata from the data stream;   storing the data object on the first storage system; and   storing the extracted metadata, separately from the data object, on a computer-readable medium.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving a data stream comprises receiving a data stream to be stored on a backup storage system. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata in a searchable cache. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein storing the extracted metadata in a searchable cache comprises storing the extracted metadata in a database. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein storing the extracted metadata in a searchable cache comprises:
 storing a portion of the extracted metadata in a database; and   storing a portion of the extracted metadata in at least one file.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata from the data stream comprises extracting the metadata from the data stream during the step of receiving the data stream. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata in a cache of memory. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata on the first storage system. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata on a second storage system. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving the data stream comprises receiving the data stream from a primary storage system via any one of a backup/restore application, an archiving application or a data migration application. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting a modification history of the data object. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting security data associated with the data object. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein extracting the security data comprises extracting at least one identifier of a user authorized to access the data object associated with the security data. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting a storage location on a primary storage system of the data object. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting a backup volume associated with the data object. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting a size of the data object. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting an identifier of a software application associated with the data object. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting a file name. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting a host server name. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein extracting the metadata comprises extracting metadata created by an application transmitting the data stream. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein storing the data object comprises storing a file. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein storing the data object comprises storing a block of data. 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 receiving a data stream to be stored on a first storage system, the data stream comprising a data object and metadata that describes attributes of the data object;   storing the data stream on the first storage system;   extracting the metadata from the data stream; and   storing the extracted metadata, separately from the data stream, on a computer-readable medium.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein receiving a data stream comprises receiving a data stream to be stored on a backup storage system. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata in a cache of memory. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata on the first storage system. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein storing the extracted metadata comprises storing the extracted metadata on a second storage system. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein extracting the metadata from the data stream is performed after storing the data stream on the backup storage system. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein extracting the metadata from the data stream is performed while storing the data stream on the backup storage system. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein extracting the metadata from the data stream is performed before storing the data stream on the backup storage system. 
     
     
         31 . A storage system comprising:
 a first storage medium;   an interface configured to receive a data stream including a data object to be stored on the first storage medium; and   a controller configured to extract metadata from the data stream, the metadata being descriptive of attributes of the data object, and to direct the extracted metadata to be stored on a computer-readable medium.   
     
     
         32 . The storage system according to  claim 32 , wherein the computer-readable medium includes a cache of memory. 
     
     
         33 . The storage system according to  claim 32 , wherein the computer-readable medium includes the first storage medium. 
     
     
         34 . The storage system according to  claim 32 , wherein the computer-readable medium includes a second storage medium. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to arrange extracted metadata into a searchable cache. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the searchable cache comprises a database and at least one file referenced in the database. 
     
     
         37 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor, instruct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a data stream to be stored on a first storage system, the data stream comprising a data object and metadata that describes attributes of the data object;   extracting the metadata from the data stream;   storing the data object on the first storage system; and   storing the extracted metadata, separately from the data object, on a computer-readable medium.   
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 receiving a data stream including objects to be stored on a backup storage system;   acquiring metadata descriptive of attributes of the objects; and   storing the acquired metadata on the backup storage system.