Storage system-based hole punching for reclaiming unused space from a data container
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for use by a storage system, comprising a processor and a memory, for reclaiming space unused by a client file system, the method comprising:
- determining a storage mapping between client file system storage units and storage system storage units, wherein the client file system storage units are overlaid onto the storage system storage units;
determining a client file system representation of storage unit usage associated with the client file system storage units;
determining, by the storage system; and
without intervention from the client file system, unused client file system storage units;
correlating the unused client file system storage units with particular storage system storage units based on the storage mapping and the client file system representation of storage unit usage to determine that the particular storage system storage units are unused by the client file system; and
deallocating the particular storage system storage units correlated with the unused client file system storage units.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method reclaims unused storage space from a data container, such as a logical unit number (LUN) of a storage system. In particular, a novel technique is provided that allows a storage system to reclaim storage space not used by a client file system for which the storage system maintains storage, without requiring assistance from the client file system to determine storage usage. In other words, storage system may independently reclaim storage space not used by the client file system, without that file system'"'"'s intervention.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for use by a storage system, comprising a processor and a memory, for reclaiming space unused by a client file system, the method comprising:
-
determining a storage mapping between client file system storage units and storage system storage units, wherein the client file system storage units are overlaid onto the storage system storage units; determining a client file system representation of storage unit usage associated with the client file system storage units; determining, by the storage system; and
without intervention from the client file system, unused client file system storage units;correlating the unused client file system storage units with particular storage system storage units based on the storage mapping and the client file system representation of storage unit usage to determine that the particular storage system storage units are unused by the client file system; and deallocating the particular storage system storage units correlated with the unused client file system storage units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A storage system for reclaiming space unused by a client file system, the storage system comprising:
-
a data container served by the storage system, the data container having one or more storage units; a communication medium established with the client file system, wherein the client file system is overlaid onto the data container having the one or more storage units served by the storage system; one or more processors configured to execute processes; and a memory configured to store a hole punching process executable by each processor, the hole punching process when executed operable to determine a storage mapping between storage units of the client file system and storage units of the storage system, determine a client file system representation of storage unit usage associated with the storage units of the client file system to determine client file system storage units that are unused, without intervention from the client file system, correlate the unused client file system storage units with particular storage system storage units based on the storage mapping and the client file system representation of storage unit usage to determine that the particular storage system storage units are unused by the client file system, and deallocate the particular storage system storage units correlated with the unused client file system storage units.
-
-
23. A storage system, comprising a processor and a memory, for reclaiming space unused by a client file system, the storage system comprising:
-
a data container served by the storage system, the data container having one or more storage units; means for overlaying the client file system onto the data container having the one or more storage units served by the storage system; means for determining a storage mapping between storage units of the client file system and storage units of the storage system; means for determining a client file system representation of storage unit usage associated with the client file system storage units; means for determining for the storage system, without intervention from the client file system, unused client file system storage units; means for correlating the unused client file system storage units with particular storage system storage units based on the storage mapping and the client file system representation of storage unit usage to determine that the particular storage system units are unused by the client file system; and means for deallocating the particular storage system storage units correlated with the unused client file system storage units.
-
-
24. A method, comprising:
-
providing storage space on a storage system for a client file system overlaid onto the storage space on the storage system; reclaiming, by the storage system comprising a processor and a memory, a particular storage space on the storage system not used by the client file system, without requiring intervention from the client file system, by correlating unused client file system storage units with the particular storage space on the storage system based on a storage mapping of the client file system with the storage system and a client file system representation. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
Specification