Storage management system with file aggregation and space reclamation within aggregated files
First Claim
1. A method of reclaiming deleted-file storage space within a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of user files, said deleted-file storage space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing at a source storage area, the method comprising:
- determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space;
in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising;
identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and
copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data storage subsystem employs managed files, each comprising one or an aggregation of multiple constituent user files, to reduce file management overhead costs. After receiving user files from a client station, the subsystem creates a contiguous managed file by aggregating selected ones of the received user files according to certain predetermined criteria. Managed file creation and use are transparent to the client stations. Eventually, unused or "deleted-file space" arises as individual user files are deleted from their respective managed files. "Reclamation" is triggered when the amount of deleted-file space in a prescribed storage area (e.g. device, volume, managed file, etc.) satisfies certain criteria, e.g. poor data storage efficiency. Reclamation is performed to regain wasted space between managed files, and also space that occurs within managed files due to deletion of some but not all constituent user files. Reclamation is applied to the prescribed storage area one managed file at a time. Each managed file is reviewed to determine whether it contains any deleted-file space. Managed files without any deleted-file space are simply copied intact to the target storage area. If a managed file contains deleted-file space, however, a "reconstruction" process is performed for that file. Reconstruction identifies any contiguous regions of user files within the managed file, then copies the contiguous regions to adjacent locations in a target storage area. Reclamation is complete after all managed files in the prescribed data storage area have been copied or reconstructed.
1239 Citations
96 Claims
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1. A method of reclaiming deleted-file storage space within a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of user files, said deleted-file storage space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing at a source storage area, the method comprising:
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determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space; in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising; identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of reclaiming a source storage area to a target storage area, said source storage area including one or more managed files, each managed file including one or more user files, said method comprising:
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evaluating the source storage area by determining whether data storage efficiency therein exceeds predetermined criteria; if the storage area fails the predetermined criteria, performing a reclamation process, said reclamation process comprising, for each managed file in the source storage area; determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space; in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising; identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area to form a reconstructed managed file. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for reclaiming deleted-file storage space within a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of user files, said deleted-file storage space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing at a source storage area, said method comprising:
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determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space; in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising; identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for consolidating a unit of stored data from a source location to a target location, said unit including multiple managed files, each managed file including one or more user files, said method comprising:
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evaluating the source storage area by determining whether data storage efficiency therein exceeds predetermined criteria; if the storage area fails the predetermined criteria, performing a reclamation process, said reclamation process comprising, for each managed file in the source storage area; determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space; in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising; identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area to form a reconstructed managed file. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
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a storage hierarchy including a source storage area and a target storage area; and a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage hierarchy; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for reclaiming deleted-file storage space within a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of user files, said deleted-file storage space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing in the source storage area, the method comprising; determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space; in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising; identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in the target storage area. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
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a storage hierarchy including a source location and a target location; and a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage hierarchy; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for consolidating a unit of stored data from the source location to the target location, said unit including multiple managed files, each managed file including one or more user files, said method comprising; evaluating the source storage area by determining whether data storage efficiency therein exceeds predetermined criteria; if the storage area fails the predetermined criteria, performing a reclamation process, said reclamation process comprising, for each managed file in the source storage area; determining whether the managed file contains any deleted-file storage space; in response to finding deleted-file storage space, performing a process of reconstructing the managed file comprising; identifying contiguous regions of non-deleted user files within the managed file; and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area to form a reconstructed managed file. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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Specification