System and method for network-free file replication in a storage area network

A system, comprising:

• a one or more processors;
• and
• memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises program instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
• initiate a replication of a file from a first host linked to a storage area network (SAN), wherein the file is managed by a second host linked to the SAN, wherein to initiate the replication, the instructions are further executable to send from the first host to the second host a request for SAN-relative extent information indicating a location of a primary version of the file;
• receive the SAN-relative extent information from the second host at the first host;
• generate local extent information corresponding to the SAN-relative extent information at the first host;
• and
• complete the replication of the file from the first host using the local extent information, wherein, to complete the replication of the file, the instructions are further executable to:
• retrieve at least a portion of the primary version of the file using the local extent information;
• and
• select a target physical storage location within a backup storage element of the SAN at which to store a replica of at least a portion of the primary version in accordance with a policy manager, wherein the policy manager is configured to designate a storage element of the SAN as the backup storage element based at least in part on a security of a physical location of the storage element.

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• initiating a replication of a file from a first host linked to a storage area network (SAN), wherein the file is managed by a second host linked to the SAN, wherein said initiating comprises sending from the first host to the second host a request for SAN-relative extent information indicating a location of a primary version of the file;
• receiving the SAN-relative extent information from the second host at the first host;
• generating local extent information from the SAN-relative extent information at the first host, wherein the local extent information comprises a storage element identifier relative to the first host;
• and
• completing a replication of the file from the first host using the local extent information to retrieve the primary version of the file, wherein said completing the replication comprises selecting a target physical storage location within a backup storage element of the SAN at which to store a replica of at least a portion of the primary version of the file in accordance with a policy manager component of a replication program, wherein the policy manager designates a storage element of the SAN as the backup storage element based at least in part on a security of a physical location of the storage element.

A tangible computer readable medium comprising program instructions, wherein the instructions are computer-executable to:

• initiate a replication of a file from a first host linked to a storage area network (SAN), wherein the file is managed by a second host linked to the SAN, wherein to initiate the replication, the instructions are further executable to send from the first host to the second host a request for SAN-relative extent information indicating a location of a primary version of the file;
• receive the SAN-relative extent information from the second host at the first host;
• generate local extent information corresponding to the SAN-relative extent information at the first host;
• and
• complete the replication of the file from the first host using the local extent information to retrieve the primary version, wherein to complete the replication, the instructions are further executable to select a target physical storage location within a backup storage element of the SAN at which to store a replica of at least a portion of the primary version of the file in accordance with a policy manager, wherein the policy manager is configured to designate a storage element of the SAN as the backup storage element based at least in part on a security of a physical location of the storage element.