Snapshot management with an external storage service

A computing device comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor device coupled to the memory to:
• send to an external storage service via an external interface, a first request that requests that a first storage entity of type volume entity be generated;
• generate an entity chain associated with a virtual machine (VM), the entity chain comprising a first entry that contains a first identifier (ID) that identifies the first storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the first storage entity as a volume entity, and an active storage entity indicator that identifies the first storage entity as having a status as an active storage entity;
• receive a first snapshot command;
• send a second request to the external storage service via the external interface that requests that a second storage entity of type snapshot-volume entity be generated;
• add a second entry to the entity chain that contains a second ID that identifies the second storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the second storage entity as a snapshot-volume entity, and a reference to the first entry;
• receive a second snapshot command;
• send a third request to the external storage service via the external interface that requests that a third storage entity of type snapshot-volume entity be generated;
• add a third entry to the entity chain that contains a third ID that identifies the third storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the third storage entity as a snapshot-volume entity, and a reference to the second entry;
• receive a preview command to preview the second storage entity;
• in response to receiving the preview command, access the entity chain to obtain the second ID that identifies the second storage entity;
• send a fourth request to the external storage service via the external interface that includes the second ID and requests that a cloned volume entity be generated from the second storage entity;
• add a fourth entry to the entity chain that contains a fourth ID that identifies a fourth storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the fourth storage entity as a volume entity, a reference to the second entry, and the active storage entity indicator;
• and
• remove the active storage entity indicator from the first entry.

A computer program product for snapshot management of a volume, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor device to:

• send to an external storage service via an external interface, a first request that requests that a first storage entity of type volume entity be generated;
• generate an entity chain associated with a virtual machine (VM), the entity chain comprising a first entry that contains a first identifier (ID) that identifies the first storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the first storage entity as a volume entity, and an active storage entity indicator that identifies the first storage entity as having a status as an active storage entity;
• receive a first snapshot command;
• send a second request to the external storage service via the external interface that requests that a second storage entity of type snapshot-volume entity be generated;
• add a second entry to the entity chain that contains a second ID that identifies the second storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the second storage entity as a snapshot-volume entity, and a reference to the first entry;
• receive a second snapshot command;
• send a third request to the external storage service via the external interface that requests that a third storage entity of type snapshot-volume entity be generated;
• add a third entry to the entity chain that contains a third ID that identifies the third storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the third storage entity as a snapshot-volume entity, and a reference to the second entry;
• receive a preview command to preview the second storage entity;
• in response to receiving the preview command, access the entity chain to obtain the second ID that identifies the second storage entity;
• send a fourth request to the external storage service via the external interface that includes the second ID and requests that a cloned volume entity be generated from the second storage entity;
• add a fourth entry to the entity chain that contains a fourth ID that identifies a fourth storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the fourth storage entity as the volume entity, a reference to the second entry, and the active storage entity indicator;
• and
• remove the active storage entity indicator from the first entry.

A method for snapshot management of a volume comprising:

• sending, by a computing device comprising a processor device, to an external storage service via an external interface, a first request that requests that a first storage entity of type volume entity be generated;
• generating an entity chain associated with a virtual machine (VM), the entity chain comprising a first entry that contains a first identifier (ID) that identifies the first storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the first storage entity as a volume entity, and an active storage entity indicator that identifies the first storage entity as having a status as an active storage entity;
• receiving, by the computing device, a first snapshot command;
• sending, by the computing device, a second request to the external storage service via the external interface that requests that a second storage entity of type snapshot-volume entity be generated;
• adding a second entry to the entity chain that contains a second ID that identifies the second storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the second storage entity as a snapshot-volume entity, and a reference to the first entry;
• receiving a preview command to preview the second storage entity;
• in response to receiving the preview command, accessing the entity chain to obtain the second ID that identifies the second storage entity;
• sending, by the computing device, a third request to the external storage service via the external interface that includes the second ID and requests that a cloned volume entity be generated from the second storage entity;
• adding a third entry to the entity chain that contains a third ID that identifies a third storage entity, an entity type ID that identifies the third storage entity as a volume entity, a reference to the second entry, and the active storage entity indicator;
• and
• removing the active storage entity indicator from the first entry.