Single-System Configuration for Clustered Storage Backup

The patent introduces a namespace as an intermediary layer between the DMA and physical storage entities. The namespace provides stable logical identifiers (e.g., /mnt/storage/volume1) that remain valid even when physical configurations change. The DMA configures data redundancy policies based on these namespace paths rather than physical entity identifiers, allowing policies to persist across storage server moves, renames, or failures while the underlying physical configuration changes.

The patent creates a logical copy or mapping layer through the namespace that preserves the identity of storage entities independent of their physical location. When storage entities are moved or renamed physically, their namespace paths remain unchanged. This allows the DMA to continue tracing logged backup events and backed-up data through the stable namespace identifiers, while simultaneously enabling backup operations to proceed against the new physical configurations through the same namespace interface.

The patent implements a universal namespace interface that works across individual storage servers and clustered storage systems alike. The namespace provides a consistent logical view whether storage entities reside on single servers or distributed clusters. This allows the DMA to configure data redundancy policies using the same namespace-based approach regardless of whether the underlying infrastructure is a simple storage server or a complex clustered system, enabling the DMA to take advantage of cluster benefits (load-balance, fail-over) without being crippled by the physical complexity.