Local and remote access to virtual machine image filesystems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for providing access to a filesystem stored in a virtual disk contained in a virtual machine image, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a client application to perform an operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk;
in response to receiving the request, determining whether the filesystem is currently in a quiesced state;
in response to determining that the filesystem is not in the quiesced state;
presenting, via a user interface, an error message and an opportunity to place the filesystem into the quiesced state; and
placing the filesystem into the quiesced state by at least unmounting the filesystem or closing the virtual machine image;
in response to determining that the filesystem is in the quiesced state, allowing a client application to access the filesystem stored in the virtual disk, the allowing comprising at least one of;
causing an operating system of a host computer to mount the virtual disk, the mounting comprising;
creating a virtual device;
exposing the virtual device to the operating system;
instructing the operating system to mount the virtual device;
determining whether the operating system provides support for the filesystem; and
in response to determining that the operating system provides support for the filesystem, utilizing one or more components provided by the operating system to interpret the filesystem;
orproviding an interface through which the client application is configured to request to perform the operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk, wherein the operation is performed without mounting the virtual disk.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms are disclosed for mount and non-mount based access to filesystems contained in virtual disks in virtual machine images. Access can be had to the filesystems even when the virtual machine images are not executing. Access to the filesystems can also be provided to local and remote client applications. Access can also be provided to snapshots of the virtual machine images at various points in time.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for providing access to a filesystem stored in a virtual disk contained in a virtual machine image, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a client application to perform an operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk; in response to receiving the request, determining whether the filesystem is currently in a quiesced state; in response to determining that the filesystem is not in the quiesced state; presenting, via a user interface, an error message and an opportunity to place the filesystem into the quiesced state; and placing the filesystem into the quiesced state by at least unmounting the filesystem or closing the virtual machine image; in response to determining that the filesystem is in the quiesced state, allowing a client application to access the filesystem stored in the virtual disk, the allowing comprising at least one of; causing an operating system of a host computer to mount the virtual disk, the mounting comprising; creating a virtual device; exposing the virtual device to the operating system; instructing the operating system to mount the virtual device; determining whether the operating system provides support for the filesystem; and in response to determining that the operating system provides support for the filesystem, utilizing one or more components provided by the operating system to interpret the filesystem;
orproviding an interface through which the client application is configured to request to perform the operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk, wherein the operation is performed without mounting the virtual disk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented method for allowing a client application to access a filesystem stored in a virtual disk contained in a virtual machine image on a host computer, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a client application executing on the host computer to perform an operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk on the host computer, the operation comprising at least one of modifying or creating a file; in response to receiving the request, determining whether the filesystem is currently in a quiesced state; in response to determining that the filesystem is not in the quiesced state; presenting, via a user interface, an error message and an opportunity to place the filesystem into the quiesced state; and placing the filesystem into the quiesced state by at least unmounting the filesystem or closing the virtual machine image; in response to determining that the filesystem is in the quiesced state, allowing the client application to access the filesystem stored in the virtual disk, the allowing the access comprising at least one of; causing an operating system of the host computer to mount the virtual disk, the mounting comprising; creating a virtual device; exposing the virtual device to the operating system; instructing the operating system to mount the virtual device determining whether the operating system provides support for the filesystem; and in response to determining that the operating system provides support for the filesystem, utilizing one or more components provided by the operating system to interpret the filesystem;
orproviding an interface through which the client application is configured to request to perform the operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk, wherein the operation is performed without mounting the virtual disk. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
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receive a request to access a filesystem stored in a virtual disk contained in a virtual machine image; determine whether the filesystem is currently in a quiesced state in response to receiving the request; in response to determining that the filesystem is not in the quiesced state; present, via a user interface, an error message and an opportunity to place the filesystem into the quiesced state, and place the filesystem into the quiesced state by at least unmounting the filesystem or shutting down the virtual machine image; allow a client application to access the filesystem stored in the virtual disk in response to determining that the filesystem is in the quiesced state, the allowing access comprising at least one of; causing an operating system of a host computer to mount the virtual disk, the mounting comprising; creating a virtual device; exposing the virtual device to the operating system; instructing the operating system to mount the virtual device; determining whether the operating system provides support for the filesystem; and in response to determining that the operating system provides support for the filesystem, utilizing one or more components provided by the operating system to interpret the filesystem;
orproviding an interface through which the client application is configured to request to perform an operation on the filesystem stored in the virtual disk without mounting the virtual disk, the operation comprising at least one of modifying or creating a file; receive an additional request via the interface; and in response to the additional request, perform the operation on the filesystem. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification