Providing a snapshot of a subset of a file system
First Claim
1. A system for generating snapshots, comprising:
- a memory;
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory;
an input interface, communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, adapted to receive a first snapshot for a first plurality of source files in a file system, wherein the first snapshot comprises at least one invalid inode that contains an invalid disk address, wherein an invalid inode containing an invalid disk address indicates that metadata corresponding to the invalid inode is contained in one of a more recent snapshot and the source file system, and wherein the first plurality of source files comprises a subset of files within the file system that contains fewer than all of the files in the file system; and
a storage, communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor and the input interface, the storage adapted to receive the first snapshot and store the first snapshot in response to the input interface receiving the first snapshot, the storage further adapted to store;
a file snapshot identifier representing the subset of files comprising the first plurality of source files that are contained within the first snapshot, the file snapshot identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files, anda snapshot sequence identifier associated with a time of the first snapshot, the snapshot sequence identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files;
a command interface adapted to accept a request for the first snapshot; and
an output interface adapted to provide, in response to the command interface accepting the request, the first snapshot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and computer readable medium for providing a snapshot of a subset of a file system. A first snapshot of a first set of source files in a file system is generated. The first snapshot includes an inode corresponding to each source file in the first set of files. Stored in each inode is a first identifier associated with the first set of files and a second identifier associated with the time of the first snapshot. Next, a second snapshot of a second set of source files is taken. The second snapshot includes an inode corresponding to each source file in the second set of files. Stored in each inode are a first identifier and a second identifier. Subsequent snapshots are taken every first period and every second period for the first set of files and the second set of files, respectively.
76 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for generating snapshots, comprising:
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a memory; a processor communicatively coupled to the memory; an input interface, communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, adapted to receive a first snapshot for a first plurality of source files in a file system, wherein the first snapshot comprises at least one invalid inode that contains an invalid disk address, wherein an invalid inode containing an invalid disk address indicates that metadata corresponding to the invalid inode is contained in one of a more recent snapshot and the source file system, and wherein the first plurality of source files comprises a subset of files within the file system that contains fewer than all of the files in the file system; and a storage, communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor and the input interface, the storage adapted to receive the first snapshot and store the first snapshot in response to the input interface receiving the first snapshot, the storage further adapted to store; a file snapshot identifier representing the subset of files comprising the first plurality of source files that are contained within the first snapshot, the file snapshot identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files, and a snapshot sequence identifier associated with a time of the first snapshot, the snapshot sequence identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files; a command interface adapted to accept a request for the first snapshot; and an output interface adapted to provide, in response to the command interface accepting the request, the first snapshot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer implemented method for generating snapshots, the method comprising:
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receiving a first snapshot for a first plurality of source files in a file system, wherein the first snapshot comprises at least one invalid inode that contains an invalid disk address, wherein an invalid inode containing an invalid disk address indicates that metadata corresponding to the invalid inode is contained in one of a more recent snapshot and the source file system, and wherein the first plurality of source files comprises a subset of files within the file system that contains fewer than all of the files in the file system; storing the first snapshot into a storage; storing, into the storage, a file snapshot identifier representing the subset of files comprising the first plurality of source files that are contained within the first snapshot, the file snapshot identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files; storing, into the storage, a snapshot sequence identifier associated with a time of the first snapshot, the snapshot sequence identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files; accepting a request for the first snapshot; and providing, in response to accepting the request, the first snapshot. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for generating snapshots, the computer program comprising:
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a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising; receiving a first snapshot for a first plurality of source files in a file system, wherein the first snapshot comprises at least one invalid inode that contains an invalid disk address, wherein an invalid inode containing an invalid disk address indicates that metadata corresponding to the invalid inode is contained in one of a more recent snapshot and the source file system, and wherein the first plurality of source files comprises a subset of files within the file system that contains fewer than all of the files in the file system; storing the first snapshot into a storage; storing, into the storage, a file snapshot identifier representing the subset of files comprising the first plurality of source files that are contained within the first snapshot, the file snapshot identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files; storing, into the storage, a snapshot sequence identifier associated with a time of the first snapshot, the snapshot sequence identifier stored within each inode corresponding to each of the first plurality of source files; accepting a request for the first snapshot; and providing, in response to accepting the request, the first snapshot. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification