System and method for providing data protection by using sparse files to represent images of data stored in block devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- creating a first point-in-time image of a volume in a sparse file, whereinthe first point-in-time image is represented in a sparse format, andthe creating the first point-in-time image comprises;
identifying a first block of data within the volume, whereinthe first block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to a particular point in time, andstoring a copy of the first block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the first block of data;
creating a second point-in-time image of the volume in the sparse file, whereinthe second point-in-time image is represented in the sparse format, andthe creating the second point-in-time image comprises;
identifying a second block of data within the volume, whereinthe second block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to the particular point in time, andstoring a copy of the second block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the second block of data;
andperforming an administrative action on the first and second point-in-time images stored within the sparse file, whereinthe performing comprises specifying the sparse file as a target of a file-specific command,the file-specific command is one of a plurality of file system commands, andthe performing is performed by a computing device implementing a data protection utility.
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Abstract
Various systems and methods are disclosed for storing one or more point-in-time images of data stored in a block device in a sparse file. In one embodiment, a method involves identifying a block of data within a block device and copying the block of data to a sparse file. The block of data is identified in response to being modified. The sparse file stores an incremental image of data stored in the block device. In addition to storing an incremental image, sparse files can be used to store full images. Furthermore, a sparse file can store multiple images (full and/or incremental) of data stored in a block device.
108 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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creating a first point-in-time image of a volume in a sparse file, wherein the first point-in-time image is represented in a sparse format, and the creating the first point-in-time image comprises; identifying a first block of data within the volume, wherein the first block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to a particular point in time, and storing a copy of the first block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the first block of data; creating a second point-in-time image of the volume in the sparse file, wherein the second point-in-time image is represented in the sparse format, and the creating the second point-in-time image comprises; identifying a second block of data within the volume, wherein the second block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to the particular point in time, and storing a copy of the second block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the second block of data; and performing an administrative action on the first and second point-in-time images stored within the sparse file, wherein the performing comprises specifying the sparse file as a target of a file-specific command, the file-specific command is one of a plurality of file system commands, and the performing is performed by a computing device implementing a data protection utility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions executable to implement a data protection utility, wherein the data protection utility is configured to:
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create a first point-in-time image of a volume in a sparse file, wherein the first point-in-time image is represented in a sparse format, and creation of the first point-in-time image comprises; identifying a first block of data within the volume, wherein the first block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to a particular point in time, and storing a copy of the first block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the first block of data; create a second point-in-time image of the volume in the sparse file, wherein the second point-in-time image is represented in the sparse format, and creation of the second point-in-time image comprises; identifying a second block of data within the volume, wherein the second block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to the particular point in time, and storing a copy of the second block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the second block of data and perform an administrative action on the first and second point-in-time images stored within the sparse file, wherein performance of the administrative action comprises specifying the sparse file as a target of a file-specific command, and the file-specific command is one of a plurality of file system commands. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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one or more computer readable storage media, wherein the one or more computer readable storage media implement a volume; means for creating a first point-in-time image of the volume in a sparse file, wherein the first point-in-time image is represented in a sparse format; means for identifying a first block of data within the volume, wherein the first block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to a particular point in time; means for storing a copy of the first block of data to the sparse file, in response to identification of the first block of data; means for creating a second point-in-time image of the volume in a sparse file, wherein the second point-in-time image is represented in the sparse format; means for identifying a second block of data within the volume, wherein the second block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to the particular point in time; means for storing a copy of the second block of data to the sparse file, in response to identification of the second block of data; and means for performing an administrative action on the first and second point-in-time images stored within the sparse file, wherein performing the administrative action comprises specifying the sparse file as a target of a file-specific command, and the file-specific command is one of a plurality of file system commands. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to; create a first point-in-time image of a volume in a sparse file, wherein the first point-in-time image is represented in a sparse format, and creation of the first point-in-time image comprises; identifying a first block of data within the volume, wherein the first block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to a particular point in time, and storing a copy of the first block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the first block of data; create a second point-in-time image, of the volume in the sparse file wherein the second point-in-time image is represented in the sparse format, and creation of the second point-in-time image comprises; identifying a second block of data within the volume, wherein
the second block of data is identified in response to being modified subsequent to the particular point in time, andstoring a copy of the second block of data to the sparse file, in response to the identifying the second block of data; and performing perform an administrative action on the first and second point-in-time images stored within the sparse file, wherein performance of the administrative action comprises specifying the sparse file as a target of a file-specific command, and the file-specific command is one of a plurality of file system commands. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification