Managing snapshots using messages
First Claim
1. A method for managing at least one point in time image (PITI) of a file system, comprising the steps of:
- creating one or more PITIs of a file system, wherein each PITI is an image of the file system created at a predetermined point in time;
generating a message containing the one or more PITIS;
setting attributes for the message, wherein the attributes define an event-based trigger for managing the one or more PITIs in the message; and
setting access control information for the message, wherein the access control information controls access to the one or more PITIs included in the message to one or more selected users.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing snapshots of a file system using messages. A snapshot is a restorable version of a file system created at a predetermined point in time. A message is a persistent data structure supported by a file server. A message may include one or more snapshots, attributes for the message, and/or access control information for the message. The attributes and access control information are applied to all snapshots in the message. The attributes in the message enable users to perform automatic event-based management of the snapshots in the message. The access control information in the message provides granular access control to the snapshots in the message.
22 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for managing at least one point in time image (PITI) of a file system, comprising the steps of:
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creating one or more PITIs of a file system, wherein each PITI is an image of the file system created at a predetermined point in time; generating a message containing the one or more PITIS; setting attributes for the message, wherein the attributes define an event-based trigger for managing the one or more PITIs in the message; and setting access control information for the message, wherein the access control information controls access to the one or more PITIs included in the message to one or more selected users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing access to a snapshot of a file system, comprising the steps of:
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requesting a file server to create a message, the message including the snapshot; creating the message at the file server; storing the message at the file server; and accessing the message by a client, whereby the client can access the snapshot in the message. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions for execution by a general purpose computer to provide access to a snapshot of a file system, the set of instructions comprising:
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a requesting code segment for requesting a file server to create a message, the message including the snapshot; a creating code segment for creating the message at the file server; a storing code segment for storing the message at the file server; and an accessing code segment for accessing the message by a client, whereby the client can access the snapshot in the message.
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19. A system for providing access to a snapshot of a file system, comprising:
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a first client; a file server including the file system, said file server in communication with said first client; a second client in communication with said first client and said file server; wherein; said first client is configured to request said file server to create a message containing the snapshot; said file server is configured to create the message and store the message; said first client is further configured to inform said second client that the message is stored on said file server, including providing a location of the message on said file server such that said second client can access the message; and said second client is configured to access the message, whereby said second client can access the snapshot in the message. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for controlling access to a snapshot of a file system associated with a first client and restored by a second client, the method comprising:
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requesting a file server to create a message by the first client; creating the message by the file server, wherein the message includes at least one snapshot of the file system, attributes that define an event-based trigger for managing the message, and access control information for defining policies that control access to the message; providing a file path of the message to the second client; granting the second client access to the message according to the access control information in the message; and determining whether the attributes in the message require an action on the message by the file server. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A file server configured to control access to a snapshot of a file system, comprising:
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the file system; and a processor configured to; create a snapshot of the file system, wherein the snapshot is a restorable version of the file system created at a predetermined point in time; generate a message containing the snapshot; and set attributes and access control information for the message, wherein the attributes define an event-based trigger for managing the snapshots in the message and the access control information defines policies that control access to the snapshot in the message. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification