Deduplicating container files
First Claim
1. A method of performing deduplication on a data storage array that stores host data, the method comprising:
- initially storing a standalone container on the data storage array, the standalone container including container files which are formed by standalone blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other;
receiving a deduplication command which identifies the standalone container; and
in response to the deduplication command, performing a set of deduplication operations to create and store a deduplication container on the data storage array, the deduplication container including container files which are formed by deduplication blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other,wherein each of the standalone container and the deduplication container is a lower deck file system in the data storage array, each container file of the standalone container and the deduplication container representing an upper deck file system for a host file system accessible to a respective host computer of a set of host computers;
wherein the deduplication command which identifies the standalone container is received from a host computer of the set of host computers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique forms contents of a deduplication container from a standalone container file system stored on the same data storage array on which the deduplication container is stored. Such a standalone container includes a container file which is formed by standalone blocks that are not shared with any other file within the standalone container outside of snapshots of that file. The standalone blocks store host data and which are hierarchically related to each other. Upon receiving a deduplication command, the storage processor carries out a set of deduplication operations which include creating and storing the deduplication container in the data storage array. The deduplication container includes container files which are formed by deduplication blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other.
45 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of performing deduplication on a data storage array that stores host data, the method comprising:
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initially storing a standalone container on the data storage array, the standalone container including container files which are formed by standalone blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other; receiving a deduplication command which identifies the standalone container; and in response to the deduplication command, performing a set of deduplication operations to create and store a deduplication container on the data storage array, the deduplication container including container files which are formed by deduplication blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other, wherein each of the standalone container and the deduplication container is a lower deck file system in the data storage array, each container file of the standalone container and the deduplication container representing an upper deck file system for a host file system accessible to a respective host computer of a set of host computers; wherein the deduplication command which identifies the standalone container is received from a host computer of the set of host computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22)
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10. A data storage apparatus constructed and arranged to store host data, the data storage system comprising:
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a set of storage devices; and a storage processor, the storage processor including; memory; and a set of processors coupled to the memory to form controlling circuitry, the controlling circuitry constructed and arranged to; initially store a standalone container on the data storage array, the standalone container including container files which are formed by standalone blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other; receive a deduplication command which identifies the standalone container; and in response to the deduplication command, perform a set of deduplication operations to create and store a deduplication container on the data storage array, the deduplication container including container files which are formed by deduplication blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other, wherein each of the standalone container and the deduplication container is a lower deck file system in the data storage array, each container file of the standalone container and the deduplication container representing an upper deck file system for a host file system accessible to a respective host computer of a set of host computers; wherein the deduplication command which identifies the standalone container is received from a host computer of the set of host computers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product having a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium which stores instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of performing deduplication on a data storage array that stores host data, the method comprising:
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initially storing a standalone container on the data storage array, the standalone container including container files which are formed by standalone blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other; receiving a deduplication command which identifies the standalone container; and in response to the deduplication command, performing a set of deduplication operations to create and store a deduplication container on the data storage array, the deduplication container including container files which are formed by deduplication blocks storing the host data and which are hierarchically related to each other, wherein each of the standalone container and the deduplication container is a lower deck file system in the data storage array, each container file of the standalone container and the deduplication container representing an upper deck file system for a host file system accessible to a respective host computer of a of host computers; wherein the deduplication command which identifies the standalone container is received from a host computer of the set of host computers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification