Systems and Methods for Facilitating Storage Operations Using Network Attached Storage Devices

1 . A method for protecting data in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising:

receiving a request to store source data on the network attached storage device;

receiving the source data;

adding metadata to the source data, the meta data being specific to the storage system; and

writing the source data and the metadata to the network attached storage device.

2 . A method for protecting data in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, a plurality of storage media connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component, the method comprising:

receiving a request to perform a storage operation for source data stored on the data source;

determining a first data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device;

monitoring a load of the data path; and

determining a second data path for the source data from the data source to the network attached storage device the second data path being distinct from the first data path.

3 . A method for verifying data stored in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising:

sending a request to restore stored data, the stored data being stored on a network attached storage device and including first metadata;

receiving the stored data;

comparing the first metadata with second metadata stored in the storage system;

verifying the stored data based on the comparing; and writing the stored data to a data destination, the data destination excluding a storage medium.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the writing is performed by a file server.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the media management component generates the metadata.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein respective metadata is added for each chunk of source data.

7 . A system for protecting data, the system comprising:

a management server;

a media management component connected to the management server;

a data source connected to the management server, the data source including source data; and

at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, the network attached storage including the source data and metadata specific to the storage system.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the media management component writes the source data and metadata to the network attached storage device.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the media management component generates the metadata.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein metadata is added by the media management component for each chunk of source data.

11 . A method for reconstructing an index in a storage system, the storage system comprising a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, the media management component including the index, at least one network attached storage device connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the management server, the method comprising:

receiving a request to restore source data stored on a network attached storage device;

reading the source data from the network attached storage device;

reading meta data stored with the source data on the network attached storage device; and

reconstructing the index using the metadata.

12 . A method for browsing data on a network attached storage device, the method comprising:

generating a request to browse information stored on a network attached storage device;

creating and displaying a list of networks including network attached storage devices;

selecting one or more networks of interest;

selecting one or more network attached storage devices in the selected network; and

retrieving data from the selected network attached storage devices.

13 . The method of claim 8 further comprising generating a list of files under management for the selected network attached storage devices.

14 . The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing a user to select files from the list of files under management.

15 . The method of claim 10 further comprising allowing a user to browse the selected files.

16 . The method of claim 11 further comprising allowing a user to request and receive more information regarding the browsed files.

17 . The method of claim 12 wherein the allowing further comprises fully or partially restoring the browsed files.

18 . The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the option of refreshing system components with the restored files.

19 . The method of claim 14 wherein the system components comprise a storage manager database, a storage manager index or a media management index.

20 . The method of claim 13 further comprising allowing a user to optionally copy the restored files to another network location or portable storage media.