File system versioning using a log

• US 20070083570A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fineberg, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/247,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083570A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1873 Versioning file systems, temporal file systems, e.g. file system supporting different historic versions of files

Abstract

In one embodiment, a computing system comprises one or more processors, and a memory module communicatively connected to the one or more processors. The memory module comprises logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to receive, in a computer-based data storage system, a data operation that changes the contents of a file system, log the data operation in a log, and use the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a computer-based data storage system, a data operation that changes the contents of a file system;

logging the data operation in a log; and

using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects comprises:

scanning the log for a close operation; and

generating a new version of the modified file system object when a close operation is located.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects comprises:

scanning the log for a close operation;

generating a new version of the file system object when a close operation is located; and

applying all unapplied changes recorded in the log to the new version of the filesystem object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects comprises:

waiting a predetermined amount of time;

generating a new version of the file system object when the predetermined amount of time has passed; and

applying all unapplied changes recorded in the log to the new version of the filesystem object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects comprises generating a new file system object version after a predetermined period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects is performed using transactional semantics.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

marking an entry in the log for removal from the log; and

removing the entry after the data operation specified in the entry has been processed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mirroring the log onto a remote computer-based storage system; and

using the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system data on the remote computing system.

9. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory module communicatively connected to the one or more processors and comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to;

receive, in a computer-based data storage system, a data operation that changes the contents of a file system

log the data operation in a log; and

use the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects.

10. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to:

scan the log for a close operation; and

generate a new version of the modified file system object when a close operation is located.

11. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to:

scan the log for a close operation;

generate a new version of the file system object when a close operation is located; and

apply all unapplied changes recorded in the log to the new version of the filesystem object.

12. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to:

wait a predetermined amount of time;

generate a new version of the file system object when the predetermined amount of time has passed; and

apply all unapplied changes recorded in the log to the new version of the filesystem object.

13. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to generate a new file system object version after a predetermined period of time.

14. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to create versions of the file system objects is performed using transactional semantics.

15. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to:

mark an entry in the log for removal from the log; and

remove the entry after the data operation specified in the entry has been processed.

16. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to:

mirror the log onto a remote computer-based storage system; and

use the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system data on the remote computing system.

17. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium comprising logic instructions which, when executed on a processor, configure the processor to:

receive, in a computer-based data storage system, a data operation'"'"'that changes the contents of a file system

log the data operation in a log; and

use the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system objects.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:

scan the log for a close operation; and

generate a new version of the modified file system object when a close operation is located.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:

scan the log for a close operation;

generate a new version of the file system object when a close operation is located; and

apply all unapplied changes recorded in the log to the new version of the filesystem object.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:

wait a predetermined amount of time;

generate a new version of the file system object when the predetermined amount of time has passed; and

apply all unapplied changes recorded in the log to the new version of the filesystem object.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to generate a new file system object version after a predetermined period of time.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to create versions of the file system objects is performed using transactional semantics.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:

mark an entry in the log for removal from the log; and

remove the entry after the data operation specified in the entry has been processed.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:

mirror the log onto a remote computer-based storage system; and

use the log in a versioning file system to create versions of the file system data on the remote computing system.

25. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a file system to manage file system objects associated with input/output operations to the computing system; and

a log filter communicatively coupled to a component of the file system to log file system objects managed by the file system.

26. The computing system of claim 25, wherein the file system comprises:

a network file system, a disk file system, and a versioning file system; and

the log filter intercepts input/output operations flowing between the network file system and one of the disk file system and the versioning file system.

27. The computing system of claim 26, wherein the log filter generates a log from intercepted input/output operations.

28. The computing system of claim 27, wherein the versioning file system uses the log to generate one or more versions of file system objects.

29. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a file system to manage file system objects associated with input/output operations to the computing system; and

means for creating a log of input/output operations managed by the file system; and

means for using the log to create versions of the file system objects.

30. The computing system of claim 29, wherein the means for creating a log of input/output operations managed by the file system comprises a log filter that intercepts input/output operations passed between file system components.

31. The computing system of claim 29, wherein the means for using the log to create versions of the file system objects comprises a versioning file system communicatively coupled to a log.