Redundant distributed data storage system

A computer-implemented method for automatically re-configuring data storage computers due to hardware failures, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• detecting, by a first data storage computer comprising a first drive of a first type and a first drive of a second type, that a second data storage computer is unavailable, wherein a virtualization engine runs in the first drive of the first type, wherein first data managed by the first data storage computer is stored in the first drive of the second type, wherein the second data storage computer comprises a second drive of the first type and a second drive of the second type, wherein a storage manager virtual machine (VM) runs in the second drive of the first type, wherein storage manager VM data is stored in the second drive of the first type, and wherein second data managed by the second data storage computer is stored in the second drive of the second type;
• instructing, by the first data storage computer, a third data storage computer to launch a replicated storage manager VM using replicated storage manager VM data stored in a third drive of the first type of the third data storage computer, wherein the third data storage computer comprises the third drive of the first type and a third drive of the second type, and wherein third data managed by the third data storage computer is stored in the third drive of the second type;
• and
• processing, by the first data storage computer, a message received from the third data storage computer indicating that the storage manager VM is now running on the third data storage computer instead of the second data storage computer.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a first data storage computer comprising a first drive of a first type and a first drive of a second type, cause the first data storage computer to perform a method comprising:

• detecting that a second data storage computer is unavailable, wherein a virtualization engine runs in the first drive of the first type, wherein first data managed by the first data storage computer is stored in the first drive of the second type, wherein the second data storage computer comprises a second drive of the first type and a second drive of the second type, wherein a storage manager virtual machine (VM) runs in the second drive of the first type, wherein storage manager VM data is stored in the second drive of the first type, and wherein second data managed by the second data storage computer is stored in the second drive of the second type;
• instructing a third data storage computer to launch a replicated storage manager VM using replicated storage manager VM data stored in a third drive of the first type of the third data storage computer, wherein the third data storage computer comprises the third drive of the first type and a third drive of the second type, and wherein third data managed by the third data storage computer is stored in the third drive of the second type;
• and
• processing a message received from the third data storage computer indicating that the storage manager VM is now running on the third data storage computer instead of the second data storage computer.

A networked information management system configured to automatically re-configure data storage computers due to hardware failures, the networked information management system comprising:

• a first data storage computer comprising first physical hardware, wherein a storage manager virtual machine (VM) runs in the first data storage computer, and wherein the first data storage computer stores storage manager VM data;
• a second data storage computer comprising second physical hardware, wherein the second data storage computer stores first replicated storage manager VM data;
• and
• a third data storage computer comprising third physical hardware, wherein a virtualization engine runs in the third data storage computer, wherein the third data storage computer stores second replicated storage manager VM data, and wherein the third data storage computer is configured to:
• detect that the first data storage computer is unavailable,
• instruct the second data storage computer to launch a replicated storage manager VM using the first replicated storage manager VM data, and
• process a message received from the second data storage computer indicating that the storage manager VM is now running on the second data storage computer instead of the first data storage computer.