Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for...

Details Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for... Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for...

2011-07-26

2011-07-26

Wassum, Luke S. (Department: 2167)

Data processing: database and file management or data structures

File or database maintenance

Synchronization

C707S639000, C707S649000, C711S161000, C711S162000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07987156

ABSTRACT:
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for taking snapshots of a storage volume. According to aspects of one method, each snapshot is represented as a unique sequence number. Every fresh write access to a volume in a new snapshot lifetime is allocated a new section in the disk, called a provision, which is labeled with the sequence number. Read-modify-write operations are performed on a sub-provision level at the granularity of a chunk. Because each provision contains chunks with valid data and chunks with invalid data, a bitmap is utilized to identify the valid and invalid chunks with each provision. Provisions corresponding to different snapshots are arranged in a linked list. Branches from the linked list can be created for storing writable snapshots. Provisions may also be deleted and rolled back by manipulating the contents of the linked lists.

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