Snapshot storage and management system with indexing and user interface

1. A method of managing stored data in a storage management system, the storage management system including a storage manager, a media agent configured to communicate with the storage manager, and a primary volume configured to communicate with the media agent, the method comprising:

obtaining a first snapshot of the primary volume in accordance with a predefined policy,

wherein the policy comprises one or more parameters for creating a corresponding quick recovery volume, and

wherein the quick recovery volume includes information about at least one application that created data in the primary volume;

indexing the first snapshot by associating respective information with the snapshot;

obtaining a second snapshot in accordance with the predefined policy;

causing to be displayed a user interface,

wherein the user interface comprises levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes;

receiving from a user a selection of a displayed level; and

recovering portions of data at the selected level and any level below the selected level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displayed user interface comprises multiple hierarchical levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing to be displayed the first snapshot to a user, wherein displaying the first snapshot includes displaying information associated with an application that created data tracked by the first snapshot, wherein the displayed first snapshot includes a date of creation of the first snapshot, a persistence of the snapshot, or a location of the snapshot.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the causing to be displayed comprises:

causing to be displayed the first snapshot via an application that created the data of the primary volume.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting one or more files created by at least one application that created data comprising the primary volume;

receiving a selection from a user to restore one file selected from multiple files;

suspending access to the quick recovery volume;

restoring the selected file via the quick recovery volume; and

reinstating access to the quick recovery volume.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a third snapshot of the primary volume of data, wherein the third snapshot only tracks changes to the primary volume of data after the first snapshot was taken; and

selecting the third snapshot as the source of data changed after the first snapshot was taken to copy to the quick recovery volume.

7. A system of managing stored data in a storage management system, the system comprising:

a storage manager;

a media agent configured to communicate with the storage manager;

a primary volume configured to communicate with the media agent;

means for taking a first snapshot of the primary volume in accordance with a predefined policy,

wherein the policy comprises one or more parameters for creating a corresponding quick recovery volume, and

wherein the quick recovery volume includes information about at least one application that created data in the primary volume;

means for indexing the first snapshot by associating respective information with the snapshot;

means for taking a second snapshot in accordance with the predefined policy;

means for causing to be displayed a user interface comprising levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes;

means for receiving from a user a selection of a displayed level; and

means for recovering portions of data at the selected level and any level below the selected level.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the displayed user interface comprises multiple hierarchical levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes.

9. At least one non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium carrying instructions, which when implemented by at least one data processing device, manages stored data in a storage management system, wherein the storage management system includes a storage manager, a media agent configured to communicate with the storage manager, and a primary volume configured to communicate with the media agent, comprising:

taking a first snapshot of the primary volume in accordance with a predefined policy, the policy comprising one or more parameters for creating a corresponding quick recovery volume, and wherein the quick recovery volume includes information about at least one application that created data in the primary volume;

indexing the first snapshot by associating respective information with the snapshot;

taking a second snapshot, in accordance with the predefined policy;

displaying a user interface comprising levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes;

receiving from a user a selection of a displayed level; and

recovering portions of data at the selected level and any level below the selected level.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the displayed user interface comprises multiple hierarchical levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes.

11. At least one non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium carrying instructions, which when implemented by at least one data processing device, manages stored data in a storage management system, wherein the storage management system includes a media agent and a primary volume configured to communicate with the media agent, comprising:

obtaining a first snapshot of the primary volume in accordance with a predefined policy,

wherein the policy comprises one or more parameters for creating a corresponding quick recovery volume, and

wherein the quick recovery volume includes information about at least one application that created data in the primary volume;

indexing the first snapshot by associating respective information with the snapshot;

obtaining a second snapshot in accordance with the predefined policy;

causing to be displayed a user interface,

wherein the user interface comprises levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes;

receiving from a user a selection of a displayed level; and

recovering portions of data at the selected level and any level below the selected level.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the displayed user interface comprises multiple hierarchical levels of available snapshots and quick recovery volumes.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

causing to be displayed the first snapshot to a user, wherein displaying the first snapshot includes displaying information associated with an application that created data tracked by the first snapshot, wherein the displayed first snapshot includes a date of creation of the first snapshot, a persistence of the snapshot, or a location of the snapshot.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the causing to be displayed comprises:

causing to be displayed the first snapshot via an application that created the data of the primary volume.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

presenting one or more files created by at least one application that created data comprising the primary volume;

receiving a selection from a user to restore one file selected from multiple files;

suspending access to the quick recovery volume;

restoring the selected file via the quick recovery volume; and

reinstating access to the quick recovery volume.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

creating a third snapshot of the primary volume of data, wherein the third snapshot only tracks changes to the primary volume of data after the first snapshot was taken; and

selecting the third snapshot as the source of data changed after the first snapshot was taken to copy to the quick recovery volume.