A primary storage, high availability and data analytics system comprising: one or more processors programmed to operate primary node software; and one or more processors programmed to operate intelligence node software; wherein the primary node software, when executed on a computer: intercepts data access requests, mirrors, to the intelligence node software, data referenced in the data access requests to provide high availability for data included in the data access requests, executes in-line data analytics on the data access request, and directs the data access requests to an actual file system or block volume on physical storage media in a primary storage pool; and wherein the intelligence node software, when executed on a computer: stores the mirrored data in physical storage media in an intelligence storage pool separate from the primary storage pool, performs analytics on the mirrored data and/or previously performed in-line data analytics, and creates metadata including discovery points within the intelligence storage pool, each discovery point containing data analytics for accessed and changed primary data since a prior discovery point, and wherein upon indication of a need to restore data, the primary node and intelligence node software cooperate to perform a live restore operation to the primary storage pool from the intelligence storage pool using the analytics metadata. one or more processors programmed to operate primary node software; and one or more processors programmed to operate intelligence node software; wherein the primary node software, when executed on a computer: intercepts data access requests, mirrors, to the intelligence node software, data referenced in the data access requests to provide high availability for data included in the data access requests, executes in-line data analytics on the data access request, and directs the data access requests to an actual file system or block volume on physical storage media in a primary storage pool; and intercepts data access requests, mirrors, to the intelligence node software, data referenced in the data access requests to provide high availability for data included in the data access requests, executes in-line data analytics on the data access request, and directs the data access requests to an actual file system or block volume on physical storage media in a primary storage pool; and wherein the intelligence node software, when executed on a computer: stores the mirrored data in physical storage media in an intelligence storage pool separate from the primary storage pool, performs analytics on the mirrored data and/or previously performed in-line data analytics, and creates metadata including discovery points within the intelligence storage pool, each discovery point containing data analytics for accessed and changed primary data since a prior discovery point, and stores the mirrored data in physical storage media in an intelligence storage pool separate from the primary storage pool, performs analytics on the mirrored data and/or previously performed in-line data analytics, and creates metadata including discovery points within the intelligence storage pool, each discovery point containing data analytics for accessed and changed primary data since a prior discovery point, and wherein upon indication of a need to restore data, the primary node and intelligence node software cooperate to perform a live restore operation to the primary storage pool from the intelligence storage pool using the analytics metadata.