Patent ID: 8688931

Claim:
A method for performing backup operations on data in a network, the method comprising: as implemented by one or more computer systems comprising computer hardware, storing in an index an indication of an association of a first storage controller module with a plurality of shared physical storage devices and an indication of an association of a second storage controller module with the plurality of shared physical storage devices; storing a failover policy for use in selecting a failover storage controller module to use in place of the first storage controller module in the event of a failure of the first storage controller module; selecting the first storage controller module of the plurality of storage controller modules to manage a first data backup operation; selecting at least a first shared physical storage device of the plurality of shared physical storage devices to transfer first data associated with the first data backup operation to; selecting the second storage controller module of the plurality of storage controller modules to manage a second data backup operation; selecting at least the first shared physical storage device of the plurality of physical storage devices to transfer second data associated with the second data backup operation to; performing the first data backup operation on the first data, wherein said performing the first data backup operation comprises transferring the first data with at least the first storage controller module to at least the first shared physical storage device; and performing the second data backup operation on the second data, wherein said performing the second data backup operation comprises transferring the second data with at least the second storage controller module to at least the first shared physical storage device.