The Data Collector is a centralized and remotely managed data collection mechanism. This Java application is responsible for gathering metadata from storage arrays, hosts, switches, and backup servers.

The Data Collector continuously collects data and sends this data, using an http or https connection, to another Java application, the Data Receiver. The Data Receiver runs on the Portal Server and stores the data that it receives in the Reporting Database. When you use the Portal to generate a report, the Portal requests this information from the Reporting Database, then returns the results in one of the many available reports that support storage management and data protection.

The Data Collector obtains all of its monitoring rules from a Data Collector Configuration File. This file resides in the Reporting Database in XML format. When the Data Collector first starts, it downloads this file from the Reporting Database. The Data Collector uses this file to determine the list of enterprise objects—such as backup servers, hosts, or storage arrays—that are to be monitored and included in its data collection process.

A single installation of the Data Collector supports any number of servers. The only real limitation is the memory and CPU processing power of the server on which the Data Collector resides. See the Certified Configurations Guide for Data Collector system requirements.