File system cloning method and apparatus

A file system cloning apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• one or more memories coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
• receive first information sent by a source storage system, wherein a file system runs in the source storage system and wherein the first information comprises metadata of files in the file system;
• create a cloned file system of the file system based on the first information, wherein creating the cloned file system comprises creating the cloned file system based on the metadata of files in the file system without copying data of files in the file system from the source storage system to the file system cloning apparatus;
• receive a first data read request from a client for a first data block, wherein the first data block belongs to data of a file in the clone file system;
• send, to the source storage system in response to the first data read request from the client, a first data obtaining request for the first data block;
• and
• receive the first data block from the source storage system, wherein data blocks in the clone file system are obtained from the source storage system in response to data read requests from the client for corresponding data blocks.

A system for file system cloning, comprising a source storage system and a destination storage system, wherein a file system runs in the source storage system, wherein

• the source storage system is configured to send first information, wherein the first information comprises metadata of files in the file system;
• the destination storage system is configured to receive the first information, create a clone file system of the file system based on the first information, wherein creating the cloned file system comprises creating the cloned file system based on the metadata of files in the file system without copying data of files in the file system from the source storage system to the destination storage system;
• receive a first data read request from a client for a first data block, wherein the first data block belongs to data of a file in the clone file system;
• and send, to the source storage system in response to the first data read request from the client, a first data obtaining request for the first data block;
• the source storage system is further configured to receive the first data obtaining request, and send the first data block to the destination storage system in response to the first data obtaining request;
• and
• the destination storage system is further configured to receive the first data block from the source storage system;
• and wherein data blocks in the clone file system are obtained from the source storage system in response to data read requests from the client for corresponding data blocks.