Flexible hierarchy of relationships and operations in data volumes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method in a data processing system, comprising:
- creating data volumes V1,1–
V1,n wherein data volume V1,1 is created as a point-in-time (PIT) copy of a volume V, wherein each data volume V1,x of data volumes V1,2–
V1,n is created as a PIT copy of data volume V1,x−
1, and wherein each of data volumes V1,1–
V1,n and V2,1–
V2,m are initially created as virtual PIT copies;
creating data volumes V2,1–
V2,m wherein data volume V2,1 is created as a PIT copy of the volume V, and wherein each data volume V2,y of data volumes V2,2–
V2,m is created as a PIT copy of data volume V2,y−
1 generating a refresh instruction for refreshing the data contents of data volume V2,y to the data contents of one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n;
converting data volume V2,y from a virtual data volume into a real data volume after generation of the refresh instruction;
modifying first data of data volume V2,y before the conversion of data volume V2,y.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus or method performed by a computer system for creating a hierarchy of data volumes. Each data volume in the hierarchy is a point-in-time (PIT) copy of another data volume in the hierarchy or a PIT copy of a data volume V. In one embodiment of the apparatus or method, the contents of a first data volume in the hierarchy can be refreshed to the contents of a second data volume in the hierarchy such that the first data volume becomes a PIT copy of the second data volume. Before the first data volume is fully refreshed to the contents of the second data volume, data of the first data volume can be read or modified.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method in a data processing system, comprising:
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creating data volumes V1,1–
V1,n wherein data volume V1,1 is created as a point-in-time (PIT) copy of a volume V, wherein each data volume V1,x of data volumes V1,2–
V1,n is created as a PIT copy of data volume V1,x−
1, and wherein each of data volumes V1,1–
V1,n and V2,1–
V2,m are initially created as virtual PIT copies;creating data volumes V2,1–
V2,m wherein data volume V2,1 is created as a PIT copy of the volume V, and wherein each data volume V2,y of data volumes V2,2–
V2,m is created as a PIT copy of data volume V2,y−
1generating a refresh instruction for refreshing the data contents of data volume V2,y to the data contents of one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n;converting data volume V2,y from a virtual data volume into a real data volume after generation of the refresh instruction; modifying first data of data volume V2,y before the conversion of data volume V2,y. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer system, wherein the computer system implements a method in response to executing the instructions, the method comprising:
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creating data volumes V1,1–
V1,n wherein data volume V1,1 is created as a point-in-time (PIT) copy of a primary data volume V, and wherein each data volume V1,x of data volumes V1,2–
V1,n is created as a PIT copy of data volume V1,x−
1;creating data volumes V2,1–
V2,m wherein data volume V2,1 is created as a PIT copy of the primary data volume V, and wherein each data volume V2,y of data volumes V2,2–
V2,m is created as a PIT copy of data volume V2,y−
1;wherein data volumes V1,1–
V1,n and V2,1–
V2,m are initially created as virtual PIT copies;generating a refresh instruction for refreshing the data contents of data volume V2,y to the data contents of one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n;converting data volume V2,y from a virtual data volume into a real data volume after generation of the refresh instruction; modifying first data of data volume V2,y before the conversion of data volume V2,y. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more memories for storing data volumes; a circuit for creating data volumes V1,1–
V1,n and data volumes V2,1–
V2,m in the one or more memories, wherein the first circuit creates data volume V1,1 as a point-in-time (PIT) copy of a primary data volume V, wherein the circuit creates data volume V2,1 as a PIT copy of the primary data volume V, wherein each data volume V1,x of data volumes V1,2–
V1,n is created by the first circuit as a PIT copy of data volume V1,x−
1, and wherein each data volume V2,y of data volumes V2,2–
V2,m is created by the circuit as a PIT copy of data volume V2,y−
1;a second circuit for generating a refresh instruction for refreshing the data contents of data volume V2,y to the data contents of one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n;a third circuit coupled to the second circuit and the one or more memories, wherein the third circuit is configured to copy data from one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n to data volume V2,y in response to generation of the refresh instruction.
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12. A computer system comprising:
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one or more memories for storing data volumes; a computer system coupled to the one or more memories; a memory for storing instructions executable by the computer system, wherein the computer system implements a method in response to executing the instructions, the method comprising; creating data volumes V1,1–
V1,n in the one or more memories, wherein data volume V1,1 is created as a point-in-time (PIT) copy of a primary data volume V, and wherein each data volume V1,x of data volumes V1,2–
V1,n is created as a PIT copy of data volume V1,x−
1;creating data volumes V2,1–
V2,m in the one or more memories, wherein data volume V2,1 is created as a PIT copy of the primary data volume V, and wherein each data volume V2,y of data volumes V2,2–
V2,m is created as a PIT copy of data volume V2,y−
1refreshing the data contents of data volume V2,y to the data contents of one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n.
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13. A computer system comprising:
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one or more memories for storing data volumes; a computer system coupled to the one or more memories; a memory for storing instructions executable by the computer system, wherein the computer system implements a method in response to executing the instructions, the method comprising; creating data volumes V1,1–
V1,n in the one or more memories, wherein data volume V1,1 is created as a point-in-time (PIT) copy of a primary data volume V, and wherein each data volume V1,x of data volumes V1,2–
V1,n is created as a PIT copy of data volume V1,x−
1;creating data volumes V2,1–
V2,m in the one or more memories, wherein data volume V2,1 is created as a PIT copy of the primary data volume V, and wherein each data volume V2,y of data volumes V2,2–
V2,m is created as a PIT copy of data volume V2,y−
1;generating a refresh instruction for refreshing the data contents of data volume V2,y to the data contents of one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n;copying data from one of the data volumes V1,1–
V1,n to data volume V2,y in response to generation of the refresh instruction.
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Specification