DATA RETRIEVAL IN A HYBRID CLOUD
A cloud environment is provided generally having at least one private data center possessing a controller/routing system and nonvolatile mass storage, a plurality of data objects retained in the nonvolatile mass storage, and a public cloud storage service provider linked to the controller/routing system. The public cloud storage service provider possessing a database containing policy decisions and metadata of the plurality of data objects. When data objects are uploaded to the cloud environment, the private data center is in possession of the data objects, the public cloud is not in possession of the data objects. The private data center is not in possession of the policy decisions and the metadata for the plurality of data objects, rather the public cloud storage service provider is. The public cloud storage service provider adapted to be communicatively linked to an end-user computing system by way of the controller/routing system. The end-user able to retrieve data objects from the cloud environment via the private data center that ascertains location information of one or more target data objects from one or more private data centers. The data objects retrieved do not pass through the public cloud service provider, but rather over data pathways independent of the public cloud service. The data center is independent of the public cloud storage provider.
1 . A hybrid cloud network comprising:
a public cloud storage service linked to a first private data center by way of a first path and a second private data center by way of a second path;
a second end-user linked to said second private data center by way of a fourth path;
a directory maintained by said public cloud storage service containing location information of a first data object, said directory accessible by but not located in either said first or said second private data centers; and
a third data path linking said first private data center with said second private data center over which said first data object is adapted to be transferred from said first private data center to said second private data center, said first data object never passes through said public cloud storage service.
2 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 1 wherein said second private data center possesses a web address, said second end-user establishes said link to said second private data center via said web address.
3 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 1 wherein said location of said first data object is obtained by said second private data center by way of said directory in said public cloud storage service.
4 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 1 wherein said first path is a first control path, said second path is a second control path, said third path is a third data path, and said fourth path is a fourth data path.
5 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 1 wherein said second end-user obtains access to said first data object strictly by way of said second private data center.
6 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 5 wherein said second end-user has no knowledge of said first private data center or said second private data center.
7 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 1 wherein said first private data center includes a controller that manages interaction with said hybrid cloud network and data storage capability, said second private data center includes a controller that manages interaction with said hybrid cloud network.
8 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 7 wherein said second private data center further includes a second data storage capability.
9 . The hybrid cloud network of claim 1 wherein said second end-user communicates with said second private data center via a public interface protocol and said second private data center communicates with said public cloud storage service via a private control protocol.
10 . A method performed by an end-user, the method comprising:
entering a storage service via a web address, said web address is uniquely tied to a second private data center;
requesting a first data object from said storage service;
receiving access to said first data object via said storage service;
before said receiving step, said second private data center locating said first data object in a first private data center from a data directory retained in a public cloud storage service; and
after said locating step and before said receiving step, transferring said first data object from said first private data center to said second private data center over a data path that does not pass through said public cloud storage service.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein said data directory is not retained in either said first private data center or said second private data center.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein there is no knowledge of said second private data center when entering said storage service via said web address.
13 . The method of claim 10 wherein said public cloud storage service is linked to both said first private data center and said second private data center by way of a first and second control path, respectively.
14 . The method of claim 10 wherein said receiving access to said first data object is accomplished through said second private data center.
15 . The method of claim 10 wherein said locating step is accomplished by said second private data center communicating with said public cloud storage service.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein said entering step is accomplished by way of a public interface protocol, said locating said first data object by said second private data center is accomplished by way of communicating with said public cloud storage service via a private control protocol that is different from said public interface protocol.
17 . The method of claim 10 wherein said second private data center presents itself to said end-user as said storage service by way of a controller and router system.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein said controller and router system controls said locating step, said transferring step and fulfilling said receiving step.
19 . A method comprising:
providing a first private data center in possession of a first data object, said first private data center connected with a public cloud storage service;
connecting a second end-user with a second private data center, said second private data center connected with said public cloud storage service through a second control path and said first private data center through a third data path;
said second end-user requesting access to said first data object;
said second private data center locating said first data object in said first private data center by way of a data object directory maintained by said public cloud storage service, said data object directory not retained in either said first or said second private data center;
transferring said first data object from said first private data center to said second private data center via said third data path, said first data object never passes through said public cloud storage service; and
supplying said first data object to said second end-user via said second private data center.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein said second end-user believes that they are connected essentially directly to said public cloud storage service and has no knowledge that they are connected to said second private data center.