Version-Controlling Storage Volume Snapshots

• US 20180143883A1
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bryant, Jay S., Carey, James E., Hill, Zachary A., Nelson, Kendall J., Palm, Lucas A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,489,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1438 Restarting or rejuvenating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/84 Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455

Abstract

A snapshot of data is generated by receiving a plurality of respective file system information sets from a corresponding plurality of virtual machines. Each of the plurality of virtual machines includes one or more storage volumes configured for receiving and storing data to thereby provide stored data. Each of the plurality of respective file information sets comprises file system information for the stored data. A first snapshot is created that includes the file system information for all of the virtual machines of the plurality of virtual machines.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a snapshot of data, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of respective file system information sets from a corresponding plurality of virtual machines, each of the plurality of virtual machines including one or more storage volumes configured for receiving and storing data to thereby provide stored data, and each of the plurality of respective file information sets comprising file system information for the stored data; and

creating a first snapshot that includes the file system information for all of the virtual machines of the plurality of virtual machines.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising creating one or more additional snapshots that reflect at least one change to the file system information subsequent to the creation of the first snapshot.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising configuring a cloud controller to send an indication to the one or more storage volumes when the first snapshot should be taken, and configuring the cloud controller to send the indication when the one or more additional snapshots should be taken.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising configuring a node as a snapshot controller for ensconcing all file system information from the first snapshot and the one or more additional snapshots into the one or more storage volumes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising pushing the stored data to the snapshot controller in response to the cloud controller sending the indication, or in response to the one or more storage volumes receiving the indication.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the file system information is version controlled to provide a version-controlled file system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein one or more changes to one or more files are tracked at a file level in the version-controlled file system.

8. A computer program product for generating a snapshot of data, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program stored therein, wherein the computer-readable program, when executed on a computing device including at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:

receive a plurality of respective file system information sets from a corresponding plurality of virtual machines, each of the plurality of virtual machines including one or more storage volumes configured for receiving and storing data to thereby provide stored data, and each of the plurality of respective file information sets comprising file system information for the stored data; and

create a first snapshot that includes the file system information for all of the virtual machines of the plurality of virtual machines.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further configured for creating one or more additional snapshots that reflect at least one change to the file system information subsequent to the creation of the first snapshot.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further configured for causing a cloud controller to send an indication to the one or more storage volumes when the first snapshot should be taken, and causing the cloud controller to send the indication when the one or more additional snapshots should be taken.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising instructions for configuring a node as a snapshot controller for ensconcing all file system information from the first snapshot and the one or more additional snapshots into the one or more storage volumes.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further configured for pushing the stored data to the snapshot controller in response to the cloud controller sending the indication, or in response to the one or more storage volumes receiving the indication.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the file system information is version controlled to provide a version-controlled file system.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein one or more changes to one or more files are tracked at a file level in the version-controlled file system.

15. An apparatus for generating a snapshot of data, the apparatus comprising a computing device including at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a plurality of respective file system information sets from a corresponding plurality of virtual machines, each of the plurality of virtual machines including one or more storage volumes configured for receiving and storing data to thereby provide stored data, and each of the plurality of respective file information sets comprising file system information for the stored data; and

create a first snapshot that includes the file system information for all of the virtual machines of the plurality of virtual machines.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further configured for creating one or more additional snapshots that reflect at least one change to the file system information subsequent to the creation of the first snapshot.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further configured for causing a cloud controller to send an indication to the one or more storage volumes when the first snapshot should be taken, and causing the cloud controller to send the indication when the one or more additional snapshots should be taken.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising instructions for configuring a node as a snapshot controller for ensconcing all file system information from the first snapshot and the one or more additional snapshots into the one or more storage volumes.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further configured for pushing the stored data to the snapshot controller in response to the cloud controller sending the indication, or in response to the one or more storage volumes receiving the indication.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the file system information is version controlled to provide a version-controlled file system.