Diagnosing errors in data storage and archiving in a cloud or networking environment

Abstract

A system for assisting in diagnosing or troubleshooting an information management system technical problem includes, in some examples, an interface with selectable options, which assist in diagnosing or troubleshooting the technical problem. Via the interface, a software developer or troubleshooting representative can select one or more of the options. For example, a software developer may select an option to automatically receive log data from a component of an information management system that has failed. Other features are also disclosed. The system also comprises functionality for configuring a target system to allow for certain system data about data storage operations to be transmitted to a cloud location from where the data may be accessed for troubleshooting.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, causes a system to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
 receiving an alert that one or more technical issues exist in a data storage system;   in response to the alert, providing, an interface for assisting in diagnosing or troubleshooting the one or more technical issues in the data storage system, wherein the interface includes at least one selectable option to activate one or more virtual machines to simulate the one or more technical issues in the data storage system   receiving, via the interface, a selection of the at least one selectable option; and   activating the one or more virtual machines, wherein activating the one or more virtual machines comprises creating multiple of the one or more virtual machines, each of the one or more virtual machines having different retrieved information relevant to the one or more technical issues to simultaneously troubleshoot two or more related technical issues at once.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option that causes a notification that indicates when information relevant to the data storage system is ready to be viewed or retrieved; and   providing, via the interface, the notification that information relevant to the one or more technical issues is available to view or retrieve.   
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option to escalate the one or more technical issues to a team of experts or a supervisor.   
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option to retrieve information related to the one or more technical issues.   
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interface further includes selectable options to download files or log files for a media agent executing data storage operations within the data storage system, and   the log files for the media agent include logged data for the data storage operations performed with data storage devices associated with the media agent.   
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more technical issues relate to data management software running on the data storage system and is identified by at least one media agent executing data storage operations on the data storage system. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interface further includes another selectable option to view or retrieve at least one log file generated by a log monitor in the data storage system that logs data for data storage operations a media agent executing within the data storage system, and   the at least one log file is generated before the alert is generated.   
     
     
         8 . A method for assisting in troubleshooting an information management system, the method comprising:
 receiving an alert that one or more technical issues exist in a data storage system;   in response to the alert, providing, an interface for assisting in diagnosing or troubleshooting the one or more technical issues in the data storage system, wherein the interface includes at least one selectable option to activate one or more virtual machines to simulate the one or more technical issues in the data storage system   receiving, via the interface, a selection of the at least one selectable option; and   activating the one or more virtual machines, wherein activating the one or more virtual machines comprises creating multiple of the one or more virtual machines, each of the one or more virtual machines having different retrieved information relevant to the one or more technical issues to simultaneously troubleshoot two or more related technical issues at once.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option that causes a notification that indicates when information relevant to the data storage system is ready to be viewed or retrieved; and   providing, via the interface, the notification that information relevant to the one or more technical issues is available to view or retrieve.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option to escalate the one or more technical issues to a team of experts or a supervisor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option to retrieve information related to the one or more technical issues.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the interface further includes selectable options to download files or log files for a media agent executing data storage operations within the data storage system, and   the log files for the media agent include logged data for the data storage operations performed with data storage devices associated with the media agent.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more technical issues relate to data management software running on the data storage system and is identified by at least one media agent executing data storage operations on the data storage system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the interface further includes another selectable option to view or retrieve at least one log file generated by a log monitor in the data storage system that logs data for data storage operations a media agent executing within the data storage system, and   the at least one log file is generated before the alert is generated.   
     
     
         15 . A system for assisting in troubleshooting an information management system, the system comprising:
 one or more non-transitory, computer-readable mediums having computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and   one or more processors that, having executed the computer-executable instructions, cause a system to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
 receiving an alert that one or more technical issues exist in a data storage system; 
 in response to the alert, providing, an interface for assisting in diagnosing or troubleshooting the one or more technical issues in the data storage system, wherein the interface includes at least one selectable option to activate one or more virtual machines to simulate the one or more technical issues in the data storage system; 
 receiving, via the interface, a selection of the at least one selectable option; and 
 activating the one or more virtual machines, wherein activating the one or more virtual machines comprises creating multiple of the one or more virtual machines, each of the one or more virtual machines having different retrieved information relevant to the one or more technical issues to simultaneously troubleshoot two or more related technical issues at once. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option that causes a notification that indicates when information relevant to the data storage system is ready to be viewed or retrieved; and   providing, via the interface, the notification that information relevant to the one or more technical issues is available to view or retrieve.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option to escalate the one or more technical issues to a team of experts or a supervisor.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 providing, via the interface, another selectable option to retrieve information related to the one or more technical issues.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the interface further includes selectable options to download files or log files for a media agent executing data storage operations within the data storage system, and   the log files for the media agent include logged data for the data storage operations performed with data storage devices associated with the media agent.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more technical issues relate to data management software running on the data storage system and is identified by at least one media agent executing data storage operations on the data storage system.