Filtered reference copy of secondary storage data in a data storage system

Abstract

The data storage system according to certain aspects can filter secondary copies of data (e.g., backups, snapshots, archives, etc.) generated by multiple client computing devices into a single, filtered, global reference copy. A reference copy may be a filtered view or representation of secondary storage data in a data storage system. A reference copy may include a data structure that includes references to a subset of secondary storage data that meets certain filtering criteria. The filtering criteria may be specified by users according to user preference. Data included in a reference copy may be stored in native format (e.g., format of the application that generated the data) and be accessible through the application associated with the data.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of creating a filtered representation of secondary copy data in a networked data storage system, the method comprising:
 with one or more computing devices comprising computer hardware,
 receiving data comprising a plurality of files residing in one or more primary storage devices in a primary storage subsystem to 
 creating a backup copy of the received data, the backup copy stored in a backup format; 
 creating or modifying a metadata index data structure associated with the one or more secondary storage devices with metadata associated with the plurality of files; 
 identifying a subset of the plurality of files that satisfy one or more reference copy rules; 
 creating or modifying a reference copy data store with the identified subset of the plurality of files to a to create a reference copy of the plurality of files,
 wherein the reference copy of the plurality of files is stored in a native format; and 
 
 creating or modifying a reference index data structure associated with the reference copy,
 wherein the reference index data structure is separate and distinct from the metadata index data structure, 
 wherein the reference index data structure comprises content data of the plurality of files and the metadata associated with the plurality of files. 
 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reference index data structure is not stored in the reference copy data store. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reference index data structure is stored in the reference copy data store. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reference copy includes copies of files in the plurality of files themselves. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reference copy includes source information, wherein the source information comprises, for each respective file in the subset, one or more of an indication as to a source computing device associated with the respective file and a source software application associated with the respective file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a file in the subset is viewed or accessed using the source software application associated with the file. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reference copy comprises pointers to copies of files of the plurality of files and does not include copies of files of the plurality of files. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , the method further comprising:
 accessing one or more filter criteria for identifying a filtered subset of the plurality of files residing in the backup copy in the one or more secondary storage devices;   identifying files that meet the one or more filter criteria by accessing the reference index data structure; and   providing access to the filtered representation,
 wherein the filtered representation is viewable by a user and displays a listing of files associated with the filtered representation. 
   
     
     
         10 . A method for displaying a filtered representation of secondary copy data in a networked data storage system, the method comprising:
 accessing one or more filter criteria for identifying a subset of plurality of files residing in one or more secondary storage devices;   identifying reference copy files that meet the one or more filter criteria by accessing a reference index data structure, wherein:
 the plurality of files were previously copied a reference copy data store during a backup operation of one or more primary storage devices, 
 a backup copy of the plurality of files are stored in a backup format in one or more secondary storage devices, 
 the reference copy data store comprises a reference copy of the plurality of files is stored in a native format, 
 the reference index data structure is separate and distinct from a backup metadata index data structure, 
 the backup metadata index data structure associated with the one or more secondary storage devices comprises metadata associated with the plurality of files, and 
 the reference index data structure comprises content data of the plurality of files and metadata associated with the plurality of files; and 
   providing access to the filtered representation,
 wherein the filtered representation is viewable by a user and displays a listing of the subset of files associated with the filtered representation. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference copy was created or modified according to one or more reference copy rules. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one media agent index comprising metadata related to the plurality of files copied from the one or more primary storage devices to the one or more secondary storage devices; and   wherein a first media agent and a second media agent identify at least some of the files residing in the one or more secondary storage devices that meet the one or more filter criteria by reviewing the at least one media agent index.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference index data structure is not stored in the reference copy data store. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference index data structure is stored in the reference copy data store. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference copy includes copies of files in the plurality of files themselves. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference copy includes source information, wherein the source information comprises, for each respective file in the subset, one or more of an indication as to a source computing device associated with the respective file and a source software application associated with the respective file. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a file in the subset is viewed or accessed using the source software application associated with the file. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference copy comprises pointers to copies of files of the plurality of files and does not include copies of files of the plurality of files. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the listing does not include files in the plurality of files that are not in the subset.