Patent ID: 8402219

Claim:
A system for performing storage operations using storage operation cells, the system comprising: a storage manager component executing in one or more computer processors, wherein the storage manager component is configured to monitor the status of storage operations in at least first and second storage operation cells based on status information about the storage operations received by the storage manager component, the status information stored in an index associated with the storage manager, wherein the storage manager component stores in the index, at least logical association information about logical associations between first components in the first storage operation cell and logical associations between second components in the second storage operation cell; wherein at least one hierarchical association between the first storage operation cell and the second storage operation cell indicates that the first storage operation cell and the second storage operation cell are organized hierarchically, and wherein the storage manager component is configured to analyze data copy patterns of the first and second storage operation cells to suggest alternate methods of performing data copy operations based on the status information, the logical association information, and the hierarchical association wherein the storage manager component suggests data copy operations intended for the first storage operation cell be performed on the hierarchically associated second storage operation cell.