Data storage management for network interconnected processors

In a data storage management system for a data network which functions to interconnect a plurality of file servers, each of which stores data files, a method of data storage management comprising the steps of:

• storing data in a directory, located in each of said plurality of file servers, for identifying a storage location of each data file stored on said file server;
• storing, in a secondary storage system, comprising a multi-layer hierarchical memory, wherein said layers in said multi-layer hierarchical memory comprise media of differing characteristics, data files migrated from said plurality of file servers;
• automatically managing transfer of data files between said plurality of file servers and said secondary storage system, comprising the step of:
• migrating selected data files from said plurality of file servers to said secondary storage system;
• writing said migrated selected data files received from said plurality of file servers into selected available memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory, absent reservation of memory space in said multi-layer hierarchical memory on a file server basis;
• writing in said directory at a directory location for each of said migrated selected data files, data indicating that said migrated selected data file has been migrated to said secondary storage system and data identifying a physical data storage location in said storage server for said migrated selected data file, which physical data storage location contains data indicative of a locus in said multi-layer hierarchical memory which contains said migrated selected data file;
• a multi-layer hierarchical memory, wherein said layers in said hierarchical memory comprise media of differing characteristics, said method further comprises:
• collecting a plurality of data files, that are transmitted to said secondary storage system, into a transfer unit;
• and
• storing said transfer unit on a first layer of said hierarchy.