Hierarchical systems and methods for performing storage operations in a computer network

1. A system for performing storage operations using storage operation cells, the system comprising:

a storage manager component executing in one or more computer processors, wherein the storage manager component is configured to monitor the status of storage operations in at least first and second storage operation cells based on status information about the storage operations received by the storage manager component, the status information stored in an index associated with the storage manager,

wherein the storage manager component stores in the index, at least logical association information about logical associations between first components in the first storage operation cell and logical associations between second components in the second storage operation cell;

wherein at least one hierarchical association between the first storage operation cell and the second storage operation cell indicates that the first storage operation cell and the second storage operation cell are organized hierarchically, and

wherein the storage manager component is configured to analyze data copy patterns of the first and second storage operation cells to suggest alternate methods of performing data copy operations based on the status information, the logical association information, and the hierarchical association wherein the storage manager component suggests data copy operations intended for the first storage operation cell be performed on the hierarchically associated second storage operation cell.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first storage operation cell further comprises a first data agent component for obtaining application-specific data from a client device to be included in one of the data copy operations by the first storage operation cell.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the storage manager component directly controls the first data agent component during performance of the one of the data copy operations.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the storage manager component instructs another storage manager component to control the first data agent component during performance of the one of the data copy operations by the first storage operation cell.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage manager component comprises a component of a storage operation cell other than the first storage operation cell.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a type of the data copy operation comprises at least one of a snapshot copy, a hierarchical storage management copy and an archive copy.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first storage operation cell comprises a higher access criteria than the second storage operation cell.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage manager component provides predictions of storage operations.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first authorized user is allowed to access the second storage operation cell, but not the first storage operation cell.

10. A method for performing storage operations using storage operation cells, the system comprising:

monitoring the status of storage operations in at least first and second storage operation cells based on status information received by the storage manager component with a storage manager component executing in one or more computer processors and storing the status information in an index associated with the storage manager;

storing in the index, logical association information indicative of logical associations between first components in the first storage operation cell and logical associations between second components in the second storage operation cell;

storing at least one hierarchical association between the first storage operation cell and the second storage operation cell that indicates that the first and second storage operation cells are hierarchically organized; and

analyzing, with the storage manager component, data copy patterns of the first and second storage operation cells to suggest alternate methods of performing data copy operations based on the status information, the logical association information, and the hierarchical association, wherein the storage manager component suggests data copy operations intended for the first storage operation cell be performed on the hierarchically associated second storage operation cell.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising obtaining application-specific data from a client device to be included in one of the data copy operations by the first storage operation cell.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the storage manager component directly controls obtaining the application-specific data during performance of the one of the data copy operations.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the storage manager component instructs another storage manager component to control obtaining application-specific data during performance of the one of the data copy operations by the first storage operation cell.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the storage manager component comprises a component of a storage operation cell other than the first storage operation cell.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein a type of the data copy operation comprises at least one of a snapshot copy, a hierarchical storage management copy and an archive copy.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first storage operation cell comprises a higher access criteria than the second storage operation cell.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the storage manager component provides predictions of storage operations.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein a first authorized user is allowed to access the second storage operation cell, but not the first storage operation cell.