Dynamically configuring a proxy server using containerization for concurrent and/or overlapping backup, restore, and/or test operations

A method associated with a data storage management system, the method comprising:

• on a first client computing device, executing a software-discovery module to identify a home directory for a first version of a database management software that executes on the first client computing device,
• wherein the software-discovery module discovers in the home directory container-related contents for the first version of the database management software, including one or more of (i) executable files of the first version of database management software, (ii) configuration files of the first version of database management software, and (iii) library files of the first version of database management software;
• determining whether a software-cache configured on a proxy server that is a component of the data storage management system comprises a template for a software-container comprising files that match the container-related contents of the home directory for the first version of the database management software discovered by the software-discovery module on the first client computing device;
• when the template is represented by a stub in the software-cache, initiating, by the proxy server, a restore operation of the template from an archive copy thereof stored in a secondary storage device in communication with the proxy server, thereby populating the software-cache with the template for the software-container;
• when the template is not found in the software-cache and further when a stub for the template also is not found in the software-cache,
• initiating, by the proxy server, a backup operation of the home directory for the first version of the database management software,
• wherein the backup operation creates a copy of the container-related contents of the home directory and stores the copy to the software-cache on the proxy server,
• thereby populating the software-cache with the container-related contents for the first version of the database management software, and
• creating the template in the software-cache;
• creating, by the proxy server, a software-container based on the template obtained from the software-cache, the software-container comprising (a) the container-related contents for the first version of the database management software obtained from the software-cache, (b) a data agent associated with the first version of the database management software, and (c) a media agent for accessing database-data;
• executing the software-container by the proxy server;
• receiving by the data agent and the media agent executing in the software-container instructions to perform a storage operation on a source of database-data associated with the database management software, wherein the instructions are received from a storage manager that manages the storage operation;
• and
• performing the storage operation comprising connecting the first version of the database management software executing in the software-container to the source of database-data;
• and
• wherein the storage operation is based on using the container-related contents of the first version of the database management software obtained from the software-cache on the proxy server while the first client computing device remains uninvolved in the storage operation.