Policy-based application aware storage array snapshot backup and restore technique

A policy-based backup and restore system, comprising:

• a plurality of host servers with each host server having at least one application;
• a plurality of storage arrays coupled to the plurality of host servers via a network;
• and
• a policy-based backup and restore module in a system server coupled to the storage network for performing a backup and restore operation associated with each one of the at least one application in said each host server, wherein
• the policy-based backup and restore module is configured to detect each application entity in the storage network;
• wherein the policy-based backup and restore module comprises application utilities for interfacing with said each application entity;
• wherein the policy-based backup and restore module comprises operating system utilities for interfacing with a corresponding operating system of each of the plurality of host servers;
• and wherein the policy-based backup and restore module comprises a storage array interface for directly interfacing with the plurality of storage arrays.

A computer readable medium for performing a policy-based backup and restore operation in a storage network having instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

• detecting each application entity in the storage network, wherein the storage network comprises at least one host server and at least one storage array;
• configuring a backup and restore policy associated with the storage network for said each application entity;
• and
• performing a backup operation of data associated with said each application entity based on the backup and restore policy using application utilities and operating system (OS) utilities configured to interface with said each application entity and a corresponding operating system of the at least one host server respectively, and using a storage array interface configured to directly interface with the at least one storage array.