WO2009088387A1

WO2009088387A1 - Online data storage monitoring and management portal

Info

Publication number: WO2009088387A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/000284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rao Mikkilineni; Gopal Kankanhalli
Original assignee: Apara Global Services Inc.
Priority date: 2008-01-07
Filing date: 2008-01-07
Publication date: 2009-07-16

Abstract

The various embodiments of the present invention provide an online data storage and monitoring portal to deliver the storage related services to a user using a Signaling Enabled Distributed and Managed Object Software (SEDMOS). A service providing system is connected to the user through a storage network. An administrator with a signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system to create the SEDMOS to collect the data related to the storage service requirement of the user. A consultant is connected to the service providing system to receive the collected data to estimate the optimum storage resources required for the user. A work flow engine is provided to design a work flow to deliver the desired storage related service to the user. The embodiments provide a portal and a method for delivering the online data storage, monitoring and managing services for the user system and applications easily, effectively and efficiently.

Description

ONLINE DATA STORAGE MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT

PORTAL

BACKGROUND Technical field

[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a data storage management system and more specifically relates to an online portal used for monitoring and managing the data storage services and enterprise applications for a user. The portal is designed to deliver data storage services required for the user, using a storage dial up platform and storage intelligent network dynamically and automatically.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] The computer storage, the computer memory, and often casually the memory refer to the computer components, devices and the recording media that retain the digital data used for computing for some interval of time. The computer storage provides one of the core functions of the modern computer, such as retaining the information. The multiple forms of storage have been invented based on various natural phenomena. Until now, no practical universal storage medium exists and all types of available storage devices have some drawbacks. A computer system usually contains several kinds of storage devices, each with an individual purpose.

[0003] A primary storage system is directly connected to the central processing unit of the computer. The secondary storage requires the computer to use its input and output channels to access the information, and is used for long-term storage of the persistent information. However the secondary storage devices are used in most computer operating systems as a virtual memory device to artificially increase the apparent amount of main memory in the computer. The secondary storage is also known as a mass storage device.

[0004] The off-line storage device is a system in which the storage medium may be removed easily from the storage device. The Off-line storage is used to transfer the data between the various systems and to archive the stored data for future reference. In the modern computers, the compact discs (CD)s, the digital versatile disc (DVD)s, the memory cards, the flash memory devices including the Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive device , the floppy disk, the zip disks and the magnetic tapes, are commonly used for off-line mass storage purposes. The "Hot-pluggable" USB hard disks are also available. The Off-line storage devices used in the past include the punched cards, the micro forms and the removable Winchester disk drums.

[0005] The tertiary storage is a system in which an industrial robot will "mount" (connect) or "dismount" the off-line mass storage media according to the requirement and demand of the computer operating system. The tertiary storage is used in the large computer systems at the enterprise storage industry and also in the scientific computing field. The tertiary storage is used extensively in business computer networks and is never used in a typical personal computer.

[0006] The database storage is a system in which the information acquired by the computers is stored in large databases, data banks, data ware houses and data vaults. In the database storage system, the large amounts of storage devices are packed and stored throughout a series of shelves that are arranged in a room, usually an office, and are linked together. The information in database storage systems may be accessed by a super computer, main frame computer or personal computer. The databases, the data banks, and the data warehouses, etc, may only be accessed by the authorized users. The network storage is any type of computer storage that may be accessed over a computer network to acquire the information. The network storage enables to centralize the information management in an organization to reduce the duplication of information.

[0007] The Network Attached Storage (NAS) is secondary or tertiary storage attached to a computer to enable another computer to access the stored information at file level over a Local Area Network (LAN), a private Wide Area Network (WAN) or in the case of online file storage, over the internet. [0008] The storage area network provides other computers with storage capacity over a network. The main difference between the Network Attached Storage (NAS) and the Storage Area Network (SAN) is that the NAS presents and manages file systems to the client computers, while the SAN permits the access to the disks at block addressing level, enabling the attaching systems to manage data or file systems within the installed memory capacity. The network computers are the computers that do not include the internal secondary storage devices. Instead, the documents and other data are stored on a Network Attached Storage (NAS).

[0009] The Network-Attached Storage (NAS) has been introduced with the early file sharing Novell's Netware server operating system and Netware core protocol (NCP) in early 1980s. In the UNIX world, the Sun Microsystems' 1984 release of Network File System (NFS) allowed the network servers to share their storage space with the networked clients. 3Com's 3server and 3+Share software were the first servers with a built-in purpose for the open system servers and the company led the segment from 1985 through the early 1990s. In the early 2000s, researches were started to offer alternative solutions to the single filer solutions in the form of clustered NAS such as Exanet, IBRIX, Isilon, Polyserve, etc.

[0010] The availability of the data may greatly be increased with NAS, when the NAS is provided with built-in Redundant Array of Independent Discs (RAID) and clustering technology. The efficiency and the performance may be increased by the NAS because the file serving is done by the NAS and not done by a server which is responsible for performing the other processing also. The performance of NAS devices is dependent heavily on the speed and the traffic on the network and the amount of cache memory (RAM) in the NAS computers or devices. [0011] The NAS is effectively a server by itself, with all major components of a typical PC like Central Processing Unit (CPU), motherboard, RAM, etc. The reliability of the NAS is based on the internal design of the server. A NAS without redundant data access paths, redundant controllers and redundant power supplies, is probably less reliable than a Disc Attached Storage (DAS) connected to a server having redundancy for its major components.

[0012] Due to the multi protocol and the reduced CPU and Operating system (OS) layer, the NAS has its limitations when compared to the DAS/FC systems. If the NAS is occupied with too many users, too many I/O operations, or CPU processing power that is too demanding, the NAS reaches its limitations. A server system is easily upgraded by adding one or more servers into a cluster, so CPU power can be upgraded, while the NAS is limited to its own hardware, which is in most cases not upgradeable. The key difference between the DAS and the NAS is that the DAS is simply an extension to an existing server and is not networked, while the NAS is connected on a network as its own entity and it is easier to share the files with the NAS. The NAS typically has less CPU and I/O power, when compared to DAS.

[0013] In an increasingly demanding and competitive business landscape, an effective data management is essential to the success of the enterprise. The data availability from any location, gives the employees, partners and customers with the up-to-the-minute information they need to work productively, to make timely decisions and to meet the business goals. Across the industries, the enterprises of all types and sizes face similar data storage challenges. They need intelligent data and storage management capabilities to manage the growth with the limited administration resources. They must consolidate the storage and improve the resource utilization for many applications across the multiple server and storage platforms. When they deploy the storage and the data management systems to address their needs, they must reduce both the acquisition and the management costs.

[0014] These enterprise storage systems deliver a unified storage architecture with versatility to simultaneously meet the diverse needs — SAN and NAS, primary and secondary storage, while providing higher levels of availability. The N5000 systems handle complex requirements in a way that actually simplifies the storage infrastructure and improves the productivity greatly.

[0015] The storage infrastructure is the backbone of present day business houses. Lots of new technologies and innovations are being developed in this domain to achieve the maximum returns on investment (ROI).

[0016] The remote management of the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) and the Personal Area Networks (PAN) is mature and widely deployed. Although the storage has been networked for over a decade, the storage resource management, is not at the same level of maturity and the remote storage discovery, monitoring, management and optimization are just emerging. While the Fault, Configuration, Accounting (of resource utilization), Performance and Security (FCAPS) management is a standard fare in POTS and PAN, it is not widely recognized as a requirement by the prominent storage vendors. There are no common and easy methods to capture the required information easily. Even when some vendors provide them, they use proprietary or complex interfaces and lack the standard way of delivering the FCAPS information to make the remote service management possible.

[0017] In addition, the storage resource optimization to meet disparate application needs such as the response time sensitivity, throughput intensive and large capacity demanding, etc., requires application to spindle FCAPS information from various types of devices and software applications that are involved so that the end-to-end optimization may be performed. Otherwise the local optimizations performed at server level, network level and storage level may often lead to less than desired result.

[0018] The next generation remote storage management system must provide a simple way to assure the FCAPS data collection and control of the various elements involved in application to storage path. Then the FCAPS data would provide a vehicle to provide the remote analysis, management and optimization to match the application requirements with the appropriate storage resources.

[0019] Thus the currently available storage systems are not able to adjust to the application needs dynamically. The currently available heterogeneous storage complexity/matrix is difficult to manage and is labor intensive. The implementation of changes in any storage systems in a continuous and non disruptive manner is very difficult. The currently available data storage management systems have manual or multiple vendor specific tools and services to collect the data related to the storage management services. The systems deliver the storage related services through the labor intensive service delivery kits.

The problems related to the storage services are diagnosed by the domain experts. The pluralities of the different functional units are regulated manually to co-ordinate the various functions in the enterprise to deliver a storage related service. None of the currently available data storage management systems provides a dynamic FCAPS management to align the application needs with the appropriate storage and other resources. There is no system to allow the delivery of assessment, management and optimization services to a user remotely.

[0020] Hence there is a need to develop an online data storage monitoring and management portal with a signaling mechanism to collect the FCAPS management data dynamically and remotely to provide the remote analysis, assessment, management and optimization of the storage resources with respect to the application requirements of individual enterprises/users. Also there is a further need to collect the FCAPS data to deliver the appropriate storage related services with respect to the needs of individual users and enterprise storage applications. There is also yet another need to develop a signaling scheme/mechanism to perform the alerting, addressing, supervision and mediation operations to carryout the remote monitoring and management of the storage systems.

[0021] The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

SUMMARY

[0022] The primary object of the present invention is to develop an online portal to provide world class storage related services easily and dynamically.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to create, deliver, assess and manage storage related services easily and effectively using a dial up platform. [0024] Yet another object of the present invention is to collect the FCAPS management data dynamically and remotely.

[0025] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop an online data storage monitoring and management portal to assess, manage and optimize the available storage resources and to deliver the assessment, management and optimization of storage related services easily, effectively and efficiently.

[0026] Yet another objective of the present invention is to develop a portal connected to a signaling mechanism to perform the alerting, addressing, supervision and mediation operations to carryout the remote monitoring and management of the storage systems.

[0027] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to provide a simple way to assure the FCAPS data collection and control of the various elements involved in an application to a storage path.

[0028] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to allocate the available storage system resources dynamically with respect to the demands and the requirements of the storage applications and the end users. [0029] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to create and deliver the storage related services with value added tools.

[0030] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to deliver the subscription based services. [0031] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to provide the Remotely Managed Storage FCAPS (Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security) services.

[0032] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to create the next generation storage service creation, delivery and assurance platform.

[0033] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to assess the storage infrastructure for risks, vulnerability to disasters and compliance to the best practices to improve the data availability, to utilize the storage resources optimally, to ensure the compliance of best practices and to provide the scalability. [0034] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to perform the data consolidation operations to unify the disparate DAS/islands of the storage resources to simplify the data storage management operations and to reduce the complexity in the data storage management processes to utilize the storage system resources effectively to improve the usage of the storage system resources. [0035] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to perform the data consolidation operations to unify the disparate DAS/islands of the storage resources to improve the data backup and recovery operations and to simplify the disaster recovery operations.

[0036] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to ensure the data availability using the processes and the technologies to protect the data from the logical and the physical failures to ensure that the data recovery is within a defined window and the data recovery is adhered to the compliance requirements.

[0037] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to ensure that the data is recovered effectively during the logical and the physical failures to ensure the continuity of the business operations.

[0038] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to provide a data migration service to focus on moving the data from one device to another and then redirecting all or part of I/O to the new device to avoid the technology obsolescence, to enable the data classification and to change the storage architecture.

[0039] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to provide a storage management service for measuring, monitoring and optimizing the performance of the storage systems. [0040] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a portal to perform the data audit services in the areas of storage, data protection and data recovery to measure the deviations from the industry standards and the best practices to enhance an application performance, to utilize the storage resources optimally, to improve the protection to the investment, to increase the revenue opportunity, to ensure the continuity of a business operation, to increase the efficiency and the performance of a system, to improve the availability of an information, to simplify the management of the storage related services and to reduce the costs of the services offered to the users.

[0041] The various embodiments of the present invention provide an online portal and a method for monitoring and managing the on-line data storage resources and applications with respect to the individual user and enterprise storage applications efficiently and effectively. The portal is developed to detect, monitor, manage and optimize the storage systems and the resources with respect to each user and enterprise storage applications.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an online data storage and monitoring portal includes a service providing system communicatively connected to a storage network and provided with a signaling mechanism to deliver a data storage and management service. A user requiring a desired storage service is connected to the service providing system through the storage network. An administrator provided with signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system and to the user through the network to provide queries/questionnaire to the user to collect a data related to the storage service requirement of the user/ enterprise application and to forward the collected data to the service providing system. The signaling mechanism is programmed to execute the remotely managed Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) based processes. The administrator is provided with an application to create a Signaling Enabled Distributed and Managed Object Software (SEDMOS) that acts as collector objects to acquire and analyze Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data from the user.

[0043] The generated SEDMOS are distributed and connected together through a network such as internet protocol (IP) network to the user and to a storage environment through a storage area network to collect and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software for acting as a collector object to acquire the FCAPS data from the user.

[0044] A consultant is provided with signaling mechanism and connected to the service providing system through the IP network to receive the data collected from the user. The received data from the user is analyzed to determine the optimum storage resources required for the user with respect to a specified service. The consultant is provided with an application to create SEDMOS which may act as a controller to collect the acquired data from the collector SEDMOS to perform Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the business policies and the storage requirement of the user. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a controller to collect the acquired data to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirement of the user to estimate the optimum storage resources required for the user.

[0045] A workflow engine is connected to the service providing system to design a work flow to deliver and manage the storage related services to the user based on the estimated optimum data storage resources required for the user. The workflow engine has a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the services into workflow applications. The workflow engine interacts with the user, the administrator, the consultant and the tools/applications to define a workflow to deliver the required service to the user. The workflow engine is loaded with software application to create a workflow to deliver the service selected corresponding to various classes of storage and service requirements of users. The workflow engine has a workflow definition tool, an administration and monitoring tool, a service request listener/dispatcher, and a workflow Application Programming Interface (API).

[0046] The service request listener and dispatcher interacts with the user through the API to collect the responses to the queries and the data related to the storage service requirements of the user. The service request listener/ dispatcher provides the user with information related to the service which is selected corresponding to the requirement of the user to provide the optimum storage resources. The workflow definition tool generates a workflow process to provide a desired storage related service to the user based on the received data from the client, the analysis result received from the consultant and the data related to the service selected corresponding to the storage requirement of the user. The API has a workflow execution module to perform the generated workflow process to deliver a storage related service to the user to allocate the optimum storage resources to the user. The administration and monitoring tool controls the storage service delivery process to the user. The administration and monitoring tool collects and stores the data related to the services delivered to the user to enable a billing process.

[0047] The storage network allows the allocation of the network resources based on the demand from the user, and the ubiquitous and pay per use techniques. The portal is communicatively linked to a service database. A policy database is connected to the portal to store the data related to the rights assigned to the workflow engine to create a workflow to deliver a service to the user, the user data, the pricing data related to the multiple services. The workflow engine changes the workflow to change the service delivered to the user. The service providing system is connected to the users and to storage vendors offering the storage services to deliver a storage related service to the user based on the received request from the user.

[0048] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is developed for providing online data storage monitoring and managing services to the users through a portal. According to the embodiment, a service providing system installed with a signaling mechanism is connected to a storage network. A user requiring a desired storage service is communicatively connected to the service providing system through a storage network. An administrator provided with a signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system and to the user through a network to provide queries/ questionnaire to the user to collect the data related to the storage service requirement of the user and to forward the collected data to the service providing system. A consultant provided with signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system through the network to receive the data collected from the user and to analyze the received data from the user to determine the optimum storage resources required for the user. A workflow engine is connected to the service providing system to design a work flow to deliver and manage the storage related services to the user based on the estimated optimum data storage resources required for the user. [0049] The administrator is provided with an application to create a Signaling

Enabled Distributed and Managed Object Software (SEDMOS) that are used as collector objects to acquire and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data from the user. The generated SEDMOS are distributed and connected together through a network to the user and to a storage environment to collect and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with application software for acting as a collector object to acquire the FCAPS data from the user. The SEDMOS are connected to the users through an Internet Protocol (IP) network to collect the data related to the user systems and requirements. The SEDMOS are connected to the plurality of the storage vendors through a storage network to collect the data related to the data storage systems offered by the storage vendors.

[0050] The consultant is provided with an application to create SEDMOS which may act as a controller to collect the acquired data from the collector SEDMOS to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirement of the user. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a controller to collect the acquired data to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirements of the user to estimate the optimum storage resources required for the user.

[0051] A workflow engine is provided with a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the services into workflow applications. The workflow engine is loaded with application software to create a workflow to deliver the service which is selected corresponding to the various classes of the storage and the service requirements of the users. The workflow engine interacts with the user, the administrator, the consultant and the tools/applications to define a workflow to deliver the required storage related service to the user. [0052] Thus the various embodiments of the present invention provide an online portal and a method for delivering the online data storage, monitoring and managing services for the user system and applications easily, effectively and efficiently.

[0053] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0056] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a remote management platform architecture in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of SEDMOS in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a work flow engine in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 5 illustrates a functional block diagram of a work flow engine in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention..

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. [0062] The various embodiments of the present invention provide an online portal and a method for monitoring and managing the on-line data storage resources and applications with respect to the individual user and enterprise storage applications efficiently and effectively. The portal is developed to detect, monitor, manage and optimize the storage systems and the resources with respect to each user and enterprise storage applications. [0063] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an online data storage and monitoring portal includes a service providing system communicatively connected to a storage network and provided with a signaling mechanism to deliver a data storage and management service. A user requiring a desired storage service is connected to the service providing system through the storage network. An administrator provided with signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system and to the user through the network to provide queries/questionnaire to the user to collect a data related to the storage service requirement of the user/ enterprise application and to forward the collected data to the service providing system. The signaling mechanism is programmed to execute the remotely managed Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) based processes. The administrator is provided with an application to create a Signaling Enabled Distributed and Managed Object Software (SEDMOS) that acts as collector objects to acquire and analyze Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data from the user.

[0064] The generated SEDMOS are distributed and connected together through a network such as internet protocol (IP) network to the user and to a storage environment through a storage area network to collect and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software for acting as a collector object to acquire the FCAPS data from the user. [0065] A consultant is provided with signaling mechanism and connected to the service providing system through the IP network to receive the data collected from the user. The received data from the user is analyzed to determine the optimum storage resources required for the user with respect to a specified service. The consultant is provided with an application to create SEDMOS which may act as a controller to collect the acquired data from the collector SEDMOS to perform Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the business policies and the storage requirement of the user. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a controller to collect the acquired data to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirement of the user to estimate the optimum storage resources required for the user.

[0066] A workflow engine is connected to the service providing system to design a work flow to deliver and manage the storage related services to the user based on the estimated optimum data storage resources required for the user. The workflow engine has a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the services into workflow applications. The workflow engine interacts with the user, the administrator, the consultant and the tools/applications to define a workflow to deliver the required service to the user. The workflow engine is loaded with software application to create a workflow to deliver the service selected corresponding to various classes of storage and service requirements of users. The workflow engine has a workflow definition tool, an administration and monitoring tool, a service request listener/dispatcher, and a workflow Application Programming Interface (API). [0067] The service request listener and dispatcher interacts with the user through the

API to collect the responses to the queries and the data related to the storage service requirements of the user. The service request listener/ dispatcher provides the user with information related to the service which is selected corresponding to the requirement of the user to provide the optimum storage resources. The workflow definition tool generates a workflow process to provide a desired storage related service to the user based on the received data from the client, the analysis result received from the consultant and the data related to the service selected corresponding to the storage requirement of the user. The API has a workflow execution module to perform the generated workflow process to deliver a storage related service to the user to allocate the optimum storage resources to the user. The administration and monitoring tool controls the storage service delivery process to the user. The administration and monitoring tool collects and stores the data related to the services delivered to the user to enable a billing process. [0068] The storage network allows the allocation of the network resources based on the demand from the user, and the ubiquitous and pay per use techniques. The portal is communicatively linked to a service database. A policy database is connected to the portal to store the data related to the rights assigned to the workflow engine to create a workflow to deliver a service to the user, the user data, the pricing data related to the multiple services. The workflow engine changes the workflow to change the service delivered to the user. The service providing system is connected to the users and to storage vendors offering the storage services to deliver a storage related service to the user based on the received request from the user.

[0069] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is developed for providing online data storage monitoring and managing services to the users through a portal. According to the embodiment, a service providing system installed with a signaling mechanism is connected to a storage network. A user requiring a desired storage service is communicatively connected to the service providing system through a storage network. An administrator provided with a signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system and to the user through a network to provide queries/ questionnaire to the user to collect the data related to the storage service requirement of the user and to forward the collected data to the service providing system. A consultant provided with signaling mechanism is connected to the service providing system through the network to receive the data collected from the user and to analyze the received data from the user to determine the optimum storage resources required for the user. A workflow engine is connected to the service providing system to design a work flow to deliver and manage the storage related services to the user based on the estimated optimum data storage resources required for the user.

[0070] The administrator is provided with an application to create a Signaling Enabled Distributed and Managed Object Software (SEDMOS) that are used as collector objects to acquire and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data from the user. The generated SEDMOS are distributed and connected together through a network to the user and to a storage environment to collect and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with application software for acting as a collector object to acquire the FCAPS data from the user. The SEDMOS are connected to the users through an Internet Protocol (IP) network to collect the data related to the user systems and requirements. The SEDMOS are connected to the plurality of the storage vendors through a storage network to collect the data related to the data storage systems offered by the storage vendors.

[0071] The consultant is provided with an application to create SEDMOS which may act as a controller to collect the acquired data from the collector SEDMOS to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirement of the user. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a controller to collect the acquired data to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirements of the user to estimate the optimum storage resources required for the user.

[0072] A workflow engine is provided with a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the services into workflow applications. The workflow engine is loaded with application software to create a workflow to deliver the service which is selected corresponding to the various classes of the storage and the service requirements of the users. The workflow engine interacts with the user, the administrator, the consultant and the tools/applications to define a workflow to deliver the required storage related service to the user. The workflow engine has a workflow definition tool, an administration and monitoring tool, a service request listener/dispatcher, and a workflow application programming interface (API).

[0073] The service request listener and dispatcher interacts with the user through the API to collect the response to the queries and the data related to the storage service requirements of the user. The service request listener/ dispatcher informs the user regarding the service which is selected corresponding to the requirements of the user to provide the optimum storage resources. The workflow definition tool generates a workflow process to provide a desired storage related service to the user based on the received data from the client, the analysis result received from the consultant and the data related to the service which is selected corresponding to the storage requirements of the user. The API has a workflow execution module to perform the generated workflow process to deliver a storage related service to the user to allocate the estimated optimum storage resources to the user. The administration and monitoring tool controls the storage service delivery process to the user. The administration and monitoring tool collects and stores the data related to the services delivered to the user to enable a billing process.

[0074] The storage network allows the allocation of the network resources based on the demand from the user, and the ubiquitous and pay per use techniques. The portal is communicatively linked to a service database. A policy database is connected to the portal to store the data related to the rights assigned to the workflow engine to create a workflow to deliver a desired service to the user, the user data, the pricing data related to the multiple services. The workflow engine changes the workflow to change the service delivered to the user. The services delivered to the user may be a data storage service, a data backup service, a data recovery service, a data migration service, a data security service, a data auditing service, a subscription based service, the partner services with value added tools and a value added service. The value added service is provided through the innovation and the integration of the multiple vendor services. The service providing system is connected to the users and to the storage vendors offering the storage services to deliver a storage related service to the user based on received request from the user.

[0075] FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG.l, a service providing system 112 is communicatively connected to a storage network 114 and provided with a signaling mechanism to deliver a data storage and management service. User 116 requiring a desired storage service is connected to service providing system 1 12 through storage network 114. Administrator 120 provided with signaling mechanism is connected to service providing system 112 and to user 116 through the network 114 to provide the queries/questionnaires to the user to collect a data related to the storage service requirement of the user/enterprise application and to forward the collected data to service providing system 112. The signaling mechanism is programmed to execute the remotely managed Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) based processes. Administrator 120 is provided with an application to create a Signaling Enabled Distributed and Managed Object Software (SEDMOS) that act as collector objects to acquire and analyze the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) data from user 116.

[0076] The generated SEDMOS are distributed and connected together through a network such as internet protocol (IP) network to user 116 and to a storage environment through a storage area network to collect and analyze the FCAPS data. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software for acting as a collector object to acquire the FCAPS data from the user.

[0077] Consultant 118 is provided with signaling mechanism and connected to service providing system 112 through the IP network to receive the data collected from user 116. The received data from user 116 is analyzed to determine the optimum storage resources required for user 116 with respect to a specified service. Consultant 118 is provided with an application to create SEDMOS which may act as a controller to collect the acquired data from the collector SEDMOS to perform the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirements of user 116. Each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a controller to collect the acquired data to perform the FCAPS management of the storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirement of user 1 16 to estimate the optimum storage resources required for user 116.

[0078] Workflow engine 122 is connected to service providing system 112 to design a work flow to deliver and manage the storage related services to user 116 based on the estimated optimum data storage resources required for user 116. Workflow engine 122 has a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the services into workflow applications. Workflow engine 122 interacts with user 116, administrator 120, consultant 118 and the tools/applications to define a workflow to deliver the required service to user 116. Workflow engine 122 is loaded with software application to create a workflow to deliver the service which is selected corresponding to the various classes of the storage and the service requirements of users 116.

[0079] Workflow engine 122 creates a workflow by forming two infrastructure layers. One infrastructure layer is created to collect the FCAPS data from all users and the service resource providers. Another infrastructure layer is created to provide a service to optimize the storage resources with respect to multiple users based on the collected data and requirements of the users. The available storage resource infrastructures are optimized end- to-end based on the collected FCAPS data to align the resources to meet the requirements of the users.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a remote management platform architecture in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention. Workflow engine 122 has a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the services into workflow applications. Workflow engine 122 interacts with participants 212 such as the user, the administrator, the consultant, etc., and tools/applications 204 to define a workflow to deliver the required service to the user. Workflow engine 122 is loaded with software application to create a workflow to deliver the service 208 which is selected corresponding to the various classes of the storage and the service requirements of the users. Workflow engine 122 has workflow definition tool 216, an administration and monitoring tool, service request listener 222 and service request dispatcher 220, and a workflow application programming interface (API).

[0081] Workflow engine 122 generates a workflow to deliver a required service. The required service is a storage service which is modeled as a work flow in which participants 212 such as the data collectors, analyzers, controllers, consultants, administrators, etc., and tools 204 collaborate with each other as a network of distributed objects to provide a desired storage related service to the user. Participants 212 act on the service requests received through service request dispatcher 220 to assign a new work flow, modify or delete the existing work flow to workflow definition tool 216 through the network. Each participant 212 has a role 214 such as assigning the work flow, modifying the work flow, modifying the deployment of the SEDMOS to collect the data, etc. A work flow is developed to deliver one storage related service to the user.

[0082] Service request listener 222 and service request dispatcher 220 interact with the user through the API to collect the response to the queries and the data related to storage service requirements of the user. Service request listener 222 and serviced request dispatcher 220 intimate the user regarding the service which is selected corresponding to the requirements of the user to provide the estimated optimum storage resources. Workflow definition tool 216 generates a workflow process to provide a desired storage related service to the user based on the received data from the user, the analysis result received from the consultant, the data received from participants 212, input business policy 218, and the data related to service 208 selected corresponding to the storage requirement of the user. The input business policy 218 is designed based on the Service Level Agreement (SLA) 210 executed with the users to deliver a desired service 208 and corresponds to policy service 224 to be delivered to the user. [0083] The API has a workflow execution module to perform the generated workflow process to deliver a desired storage related service to the user to allocate the estimated optimum storage resources to the user. Administration and monitoring tool 204 controls the storage service delivery process to the user. Administration and monitoring tool 204 collects and stores the data related to the services delivered to the user to enable a billing process. [0084] Storage network 114 (of FIG. 1) allows the allocation of the network resources based on the demand from the user, and the ubiquitous and pay per use techniques. The portal is communicatively linked to a service database 206. Policy database 226 is connected to the portal to store the data related to the rights assigned to the workflow engine to create a workflow to deliver a service to the user, the user data, the pricing data related to the multiple services. Workflow engine 122 changes the workflow to change service 208 delivered to the user. The service providing system is connected to the users and to the storage vendors offering the storage services to deliver a desired storage related service to the user based on the received request from the user.

[0085] Workflow engine 122 creates a workflow by forming two infrastructure layers. One infrastructure layer is created to collect the FCAPS data from all users and the service resource providers. Another infrastructure layer is created to provide a service to optimize the storage resources with respect to multiple users based on the collected data and requirements of the users. The available storage resource infrastructures are optimized end- to-end based on the collected FCAPS data to align the resources to meet the requirements of the users.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of a SEDMOS in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention. SEDMOS 300 is self configured and programmed to act as a collector to acquire the Fault, Configuration, Accounting (of resource utilization), Performance and Security (FCAPS) data from the user. The FCAPS data are related to the user systems and the applications. SEDMOS 300 acting as a controller performs Fault 302, Configuration 304, Accounting (of resource utilization) 306, Performance 308 and Security 310 (FCAPS) management processes of the acquired data to estimate the optimum storage resources required for the user based on the output of the FCAPS analysis of the collected FCAPS data. The FCAPS data collected from the user is input into SEDMOS 300 to obtain the FCAPS analysis result as output.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a work flow engine in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention. SEDMOS objects 300A, 300B are connected to the workflow engine 122 through internet to transmit the FCAPS data collected to the workflow engine 122 through the central command centre. A workflow interpreter 402 is connected to workflow engine 122 to define the output of the FCAPS analysis of the collected FCAPS data. Workflow engine 122 generates a workflow based on the output of workflow interpreter 402 to generate and deliver a storage related service to the user. Workflow engine 122 generates a workflow to deliver a required service. The required service is a storage service which is modeled as a work flow in which the participants 212 such as data collectors, analyzers, controllers, administrators and tools 204 collaborate with each other as a network of distributed objects to provide a desired storage related service to the user.

[0088] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a workflow engine in an online data storage monitoring and management portal according to one embodiment of the present invention. The signaling enabled work flow engine 122 is connected to a command and control center through a network to design a workflow to execute a service based on the analysis of collected data by the SEDMOS. Workflow engine 122 creates a workflow to execute the allocation, delivery and the management of the storage resources with respect to the user based on the storage requirements and the services that are estimated with respect to the data collected by the SEDMOS units. Workflow engine 122 generates a workflow to deliver a required service. The required service is a storage service which is modeled as a work flow in which the data collectors, analyzers, controllers, administrators and monitoring tools 506 collaborate with each other as a network of distributed objects to provide a desired storage related service to the user. [0089] Workflow engine 122 creates a workflow by forming two infrastructure layers. One infrastructure layer is created to collect the FCAPS data from all users and the service resource providers. Another infrastructure layer is created to provide a service to optimize the storage resources with respect to the multiple users based on the collected data and requirements of the users. The available storage resource infrastructures are optimized end-to-end based on the collected FCAPS data to align the resources to meet the requirements of the users.

[0090] A storage definition tool (SDT) 530 is connected to workflow engine 122 through application server 514. Storage definition tool 530 is an application to estimate the storage requirements and the services required by the end user based on the data collected through said SEDMOS. The application data stored in XML files 526 is downloaded by storage definition tool (SDT) importer 528 and stored in SDT database 532. Storage definition tool 530 is retrieved from SDT database 532 and is forwarded to application server 514. Application server 514 receives and forwards the estimated storage management information and the services to workflow engine 122.

[0091] An external application server 518 is communicatively connected to application server 514 to select a suitable and appropriate application for generating a workflow based on the data collected by the SEDMOS. The external application server includes a tool database 520, data collector 524 and a data analyzer 522. The data collected by the SEDMOS objects are received by data collector 524 and processed using data analyzer 522. The analysis result of the data collected by the SEDMOS and data collector 524 are received and forwarded for storage in the tool data base 520 for further use in application server 514. [0092] Application server 514 estimates the optimum storage resources required for the user based on the input and collected data such as service level agreement, tools/license data, service request data, data related to user applications and requirement, data related to storage systems, data related to service management process, etc. Application server 514 estimates the optimum storage resources required for the user based on the collected data using the applications selected and retrieved from the database 520 and SDT database 532 with respect to the data acquired by the SEDMOS objects. Application database 516 is connected to the workflow engine and to application server 514 to store the data related to the services, tools, licenses, users and their roles, policy and service requests. [0093] The work flow engine has work flow definition tool 504, work flow definition database 508, application programming interface (API) 510, service request dispatcher /listener 512 and administration and monitoring tool 506. Service request dispatcher /listener 512 first receives a service request from the user and forwards the same to the application programming interface 510. Administration and monitoring tool 506 is an application which is executed to select a desired storage related service based on the data received from the application server.

[0094] API 510 generates a work flow definition for delivering the estimated storage related service to the user based on the data received from service request dispatcher /listener 512 and the administration and monitoring tool 506. The generated work flow definition is stored in the workflow definition database 508. A work flow definition tool 504 is an application which is used to generate a work flow to deliver the estimated storage related service to the user based on the work flow definition stored in workflow definition database

508. API 510 forwards the data related to the delivery of the generated storage related service to the user through service request dispatcher / listener 512.

[0095] The workflow engine creates a workflow by forming two infrastructure layers. One infrastructure layer is created to collect the entire FCAPS data from all users and service resource providers. Another infrastructure layer is created to provide a service to optimize the storage resources with respect to the multiple users based on the collected data and the requirements of the users. The available storage resource infrastructures are optimized end- to-end based on the collected FCAPS data to align the resources to meet the requirements of the users.

[0096] Thus the various embodiments of the present invention provide a dynamic online remote data storage monitoring and management portal and a method to deliver the desired storage related services to the users according to the needs and the requirements of the user. The storage resources are allocated and changed dynamically and automatically by creating two infrastructure layers. [0097] One infrastructure layer is created to allow the creation, delivery and assurance of the storage related services such as the assessment, management and optimization of the storage resources by monitoring the FCAPS data from all the devices and the elements that are used to align the application needs and the storage resource requirements of user with the available storage resources. The Second infrastructure layer is created to generate the SEDMOS that collect and/or control the data from the devices involved in storage services with high reliability, availability and security. The online remote data storage management and monitoring portal enables the remote service creation, the FCAPS management and the delivery and the assurance of the storage related services to the user based on request or on demand. The online data storage monitoring and management portal of the present invention is used to enhance the performance of an application and optimizes the usage of the available storage resources. The portal enables the user to protect the investment, increases the revenue opportunity, enhances the efficiency and the performance of the storage delivery process, improves the access and availability of data at any point of time, simplifies the data storage management process and reduces the cost of data storage.

[0098] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

[0099] It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the present invention described herein and all the statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. An online data storage and monitoring portal to deliver a data storage and management service, comprising of:

a service providing system connected to an storage network and installed with a signaling mechanism;

a user requiring a desired storage service connected to said service providing system through said storage network;

an administrator provided with signaling mechanism and connected to said service providing system and said user through said network to provide queries/questionnaire to said user to collect data related to storage service requirement of said user and to forward said collected data to said service providing system;

a consultant provided with signaling mechanism and connected to said service providing system through said network to receive data collected from said user and to analyze received data from said user to determine the optimum storage resources required for the said user for said service; and

a workflow engine connected to said service providing system to design a work flow, to deliver and manage storage related services to said user based on estimated optimum data storage resources required for said user.

2. The portal according to claim 1 , wherein said administrator is provided with an application to create a signaling enabled distributed and managed object software (SEDMOS) that act as collector objects to acquire and analyze fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security (FCAPS) data from said user.

3. The portal according to claim 2, wherein the generated SEDMOS are distributed and connected together through a network to said user and to a storage environment to collect and analyze fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security (FCAPS) data.

4. The portal according to claim 3, wherein the each generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software for acting as a collector object to acquire FCAPS data from said user.

5. The portal according to claim 3, wherein said SEDMOS are connected to said users through an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

6. The portal according to claim 3, wherein said SEDMOS are connected to plurality of storage vendors through a storage network.

7. The portal according to claim 1, wherein said administrator is provided with signaling mechanism to deliver addressing, alerting, supervision and mediation of SEDMOS objects.

8. The portal according to claim 1 , wherein the consultant is provided with an application to create the SEDMOS which may act as a controller to receive the acquired FCAPS data from said collector SEDMOS to perform the fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security (FCAPS) management of storage resources based on the input business policies and the storage requirement of said user.

9. The portal according to claim 7, wherein each said generated SEDMOS is self configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a controller to collect the acquired FCAPS data to perform the fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources based on the business policies and the storage requirements of said user to estimate the optimum storage resources required for said user.

10. The portal according to claim 1, wherein said workflow engine has a work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the defined services into the workflow applications.

11. The portal according to claim 1 , wherein said workflow engine is loaded with software application to create a workflow to deliver the service which is selected corresponding to the various classes of the storage and the service requirements of the users.

12. The portal according to claim 1, wherein said workflow engine interacts with the user, the administrator, the consultant and the tools/applications to define a workflow to deliver the required service to the user.

13. The portal according to claim 1, wherein said workflow engine comprises

a workflow definition tool; an administration and monitoring tool; a service request listener/ dispatcher; and a workflow application programming interface (API)

14. The portal according to claim 13, wherein said service request listener and dispatcher interacts with the said user through said API to collect the response to the queries and the data related to the storage service requirements of said user.

15. The portal according to claim 13, wherein the service request listener/dispatcher informs said user regarding the service selected corresponding to the requirement of said user to provide an optimum storage resources.

16. The portal according to claim 13, wherein said workflow definition tool generates a 91 workflow process to provide a desired storage related service to said user based on

92 the received data from the client, the analysis result received from the said consultant

93 and the data related to the service selected corresponding to the storage requirement

94 of said user. 95

96 17. The portal according to claim 13, wherein said API has a workflow execution

97 module to perform the generated workflow process to deliver a storage related service

98 to said user to allocate the optimum storage resources to said user. 99

100 18. The portal according to claim 13, wherein the administration and monitoring tool

101 controls the storage service delivery process to said user. 102

103 19. The portal according to claim 13, wherein the administration and monitoring tool

104 collects and stores the data related to the services delivered to said user to enable a

105 billing process. 106

107 20. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the storage network allows allocation of the

108 network resources based on a demand from said user, and the ubiquitous and pay per

109 use techniques. 110

111 21. The portal according to claim 1 , further comprises a service database to store the data

112 related to the services delivered to the said user. 113

114 22. The portal according to claim 1 , further comprises a policy database to store the data

115 related to the rights assigned to said workflow engine to create a workflow to deliver

116 a service to said user, the user data, the pricing data related to the multiple services. 117

118 23. The portal according to claim 1 , wherein the workflow engine changes the workflow

119 to change the service delivered to said user. 120

121 24. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a data

122 storage service. 123

124 25. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a data

125 backup service. 126

127 26. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a data

128 recovery service. 129

130 27. The portal according to claim 1 , wherein the service delivered to said user is a data

131 migration service. 132

133 28. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a data

134 security service. 135

136 29. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a data 137 auditing service.

138

139 30. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

140 subscription based service. 141

142 31. The portal according to claim 1 , wherein the service delivered to said user is the

143 partner services with value added tools. 144

145 32. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service delivered to said user is a value

146 added service. 147

148 33. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the value added service is provided through

149 the innovation and the integration of the multiple vendor services. 150

151 34. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the service providing system is connected

152 to said users and to storage vendors offering the storage services to deliver a storage

153 related service to said user based on the received request from said user. 154

155 35. The portal according to claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism is programmed to

156 execute the remotely managed fault, configuration, accounting, performance and

157 security (FCAPS) based processes. 158

159 36. An on line data storage monitoring and management service providing method using 160 an online data storage monitoring and management portal, the method comprising: 161

162 connecting a service providing system installed with a signaling mechanism to a

163 storage network; 164

165 communicatively connecting a user requiring a desired storage service to said service

166 providing system through said storage network; 167

168 connecting an administrator provided with signaling mechanism to said service

169 providing system and said user through said network to provide queries/questionnaire

170 to said user to collect data related to said desired storage service requirement of said

171 user and to forward collected data to said service providing system; 172

173 connecting a consultant provided with signaling mechanism to said service providing

174 system through said network to receive data collected from said user and to analyze

175 said received data from said user to determine the optimum storage resources

176 required for the said user; and 177

178 connecting a workflow engine to said service providing system to design a work flow

179 to deliver and manage desired storage related services to said user based on estimated

180 optimum data storage resources required for said user. 181

182 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein an application is provided in said 183 administrator to enable said administrator to create a signaling enabled distributed

184 and managed object software (SEDMOS) that are used as collector objects to acquire

185 and analyze the fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security (FCAPS)

186 data from said user. 187

188 38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the generated SEDMOS are distributed

189 and connected together through a network to said user and to a storage environment

190 to collect and analyze the fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security

191 (FCAPS) data. 192

193 39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the each generated SEDMOS is self

194 configured, customized and embedded with an application software for acting as a

195 collector object to acquire said FCAPS data from said user. 196

197 40. The method according to claim 37, wherein said SEDMOS are connected to said

198 users through an Internet Protocol (IP) network to collect the FCAPS data related to

199 the user systems and to the storage requirements of the user. 200

201 41. The method according to claim 37, wherein said SEDMOS are connected to plurality

202 of storage vendors through a storage network to collect the data related to the data

203 storage systems offered by the storage vendors. 204

205 42. The method according to claim 36, wherein said administrator is provided with 206 signaling mechanism to deliver the addressing, alerting, supervision and mediation

207 operations of the SEDMOS objects. 208

209 43. The method according to claim 36, wherein the consultant is provided with an

210 application to create a SEDMOS which may act as a controller to collect the acquired

211 data from said collector SEDMOS to perform the fault, configuration, accounting,

212 performance and security (FCAPS) management of the available storage resources

213 based on the input business policies and the storage requirements of said user. 214

215 44. The method according to claim 36, wherein each said generated SEDMOS is self

216 configured, customized and embedded with an application software to act as a

217 controller to collect the acquired FCAPS data to perform the fault, configuration,

218 accounting, performance and security (FCAPS) management of the storage resources

219 based on the input business policies and the storage requirements of said user to

220 estimate the optimum storage resources required for said user. 221

222 45. The method according to claim 36, wherein said workflow engine is provided with a

223 work flow interpreter to define the services and to interpret the said defined services

224 into the workflow applications. 225

226 46. The method according to claim 36, wherein said workflow engine is loaded with

227 application software to create a workflow to deliver the service which is selected

228 . corresponding to the various classes of the storage and the service requirements of 229 said user. 230

231 47. The method according to claim 36, wherein said workflow engine interacts with the

232 said user, the said administrator, the said consultant and the tools/applications to

233 define a workflow to deliver the required service to the said user. 234

235 48. The method according to claim 36, wherein said workflow engine is provided with a

236 service request listener and dispatcher to interact with the said user to collect the

237 response to the queries issued to said user and the data related to a storage service 238 requirement of said user.

239

240 49. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service request listener/dispatcher is

241 used to inform the user regarding the service which is selected corresponding to the

242 requirement of said user to provide the optimum storage resources. 243

244 50. The method according to claim 36, wherein said workflow engine has a workflow

245 definition tool to generate a workflow process to provide a desired storage related

246 service to said user based on the received data from the client, the analysis result

247 received from the said consultant and the data related to the service selected

248 corresponding to the storage requirement of said user. 249

250 51. The method according to claim 36, wherein said work flow engine has an application

251 programming interface (API) provided with a workflow execution module to execute 252 the generated workflow process to deliver a storage related service to said user to

253 allocate optimum storage resources to said user. 254

255 52. The method according to claim 36, wherein said work flow engine has an

256 administration and monitoring tool to control the storage service delivery process to

257 said user. 258

259 53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the said administration and monitoring

260 tool collects and stores the data related to the services delivered to said user to enable

261 a billing process. 262

263 54. The method according to claim 36, wherein the said workflow engine changes the

264 workflow to change the service delivered to said user. 265

266 55. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

267 data storage service. 268

269 56. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

270 data backup service. 271

272 57. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

273 data recovery service. 274

275 58. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

276 data migration service. 277

278 59. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

279 data security service. 280

281 60. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

282 data auditing service. 283

284 61. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

285 subscription based service. 286

287 62. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

288 partner services with value added tools. 289

290 63. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service delivered to said user is a

291 value added service. 292

293 64. The method according to claim 63, wherein the value added service is provided

294 through the innovation and the integration of the multiple vendor services. 295

296 65. The method according to claim 36, wherein the service providing system is

297 connected to said users and to storage vendors offering storage services to deliver a 298 storage related service to said user based on received request from said user.

299

300 66. The method according to claim 36, wherein the signaling mechanism is programmed

301 to execute the remotely managed fault, configuration, accounting, performance and

302 security (FCAPS) based processes.