Method and system for grouping storage system components

1. A method for grouping networked storage system components, the method comprising:

associating with one or more computer processors a first group of clients and storage system components with a first storage policy which defines one or more retention storage preferences, wherein the retention storage preferences of the first storage policy are associated with one or more storage operations that are to be performed by at least one of the storage system components in the first group;

associating with one or more computer processors a second group of clients and storage system components with a second storage policy which defines one or more retention storage preferences, wherein the retention storage preferences of the second storage policy are associated with one or more storage operations that are to be performed by the storage system components in the second group;

reassigning at least a first client associated with the first group to both the first group and the second group, wherein the first client automatically inherits the second storage policy associated with the second group while retaining the storage policy associated with the first group, and in the event a first storage operation associated with the first storage policy conflicts with a second storage operation associated the second storage policy, the storage policy associated with a higher priority controls; and

performing one or more storage operations associated with the storage policy with the higher priority.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein when a first storage system component of the one or more storage system components associated with the first group is reassigned to both the first group and the second group, the first storage system component automatically inherits the second storage policy associated with the second group while retaining the first storage policy associated with the first group.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the first storage policy is to be performed on a reassigned storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the first storage policy.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the second storage policy is to be performed on a reassigned storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the second storage policy.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning storage system components to one or more groups and selecting storage system components for a group based on the storage system components having a common characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage system components further comprise sub-client components of a plurality of clients, the clients being data sources for the storage operation.

7. A computer system for grouping networked storage system components, the system comprising:

multiple clients and storage system components comprising one or more computer processors, wherein at least a first client and one or more storage system components are associated with a first group and at least a second client and one or more storage system components are associated with a second group;

at least a first storage policy which defines one or more retention storage preferences associated with the first group, wherein the retention storage preferences of the first storage policy are associated with one or more storage operations that are to be performed by at least one of the storage system components in the first group;

at least a second storage policy defining one or more retention storage preferences associated with the second group, wherein the retention storage preferences of the second storage policy are associated with one or more storage operations that are to be performed by at least one of the storage system components in the second group; and

wherein in the event the first client is reassigned to both the first group and the second group the first client automatically inherits the second storage policy associated with the second group while retaining the storage policy associated with the first group, and in the event a first storage operation associated with the first storage policy conflicts with a second storage operation associated with the second storage policy, the storage policy associated with a higher priority controls; and

wherein one or more storage operations associated with the storage policy with the higher priority are performed.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein when a first storage system component of the one or more storage system components associated with the first group is reassigned to both the first group and the second group, the first storage system component automatically inherits the second storage policy associated with the second group while retaining the first storage policy associated with the first group.

9. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the first storage policy is to be performed on a reassigned storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the first storage policy.

10. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein in the event a non-conflict storage operation associated with the second storage policy is to be performed on a reassigned storage system component, performing the non-conflict storage operation in accordance with the second storage policy.

11. The computer system of claim 7 , comprising assigning storage system components to one or more groups and selecting storage system components for a group based on the storage system components having a common characteristic.

12. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the storage system components comprise sub-client components of a plurality of clients, the clients being data sources for the storage operation.