Dynamic links to file system snapshots

A method on a client information processing system for providing access to a snapshot dataset, comprising:

• generating a directory including a subdirectory entry for each snapshot of a source file, wherein each subdirectory entry includes a link to a snapshot of the source file;
• retrieving, upon an access request into the directory, a subdirectory entry corresponding to a most recent snapshot of the source file;
• and
• providing, from the retrieved subdirectory entry, a link to a snapshot of the source file.

A system on a client information processing system for providing access to a snapshot dataset, comprising:

• means for generating a link, wherein the link specifies an inode number of a source file and wherein the link does not specify a snapshot dataset identifier;
• means for retrieving, upon activation of the link, a snapshot identifier corresponding to a most recent snapshot dataset;
• means for identifying the most recent snapshot dataset using the snapshot identifier;
• and
• means for determining whether the most recent snapshot dataset includes an inode corresponding to the inode number specified in the link.

A system on a client information processing system for providing access to a snapshot dataset, comprising:

• means for generating a directory including a subdirectory entry for each snapshot of a source file, wherein each subdirectory entry includes a link to a snapshot of the source file;
• means for retrieving, upon an access request into the directory, a subdirectory entry corresponding to a most recent snapshot of the source file;
• and
• means for providing, from the retrieved subdirectory entry, a link to a snapshot of the source file.

A computer readable medium on a client information processing system including computer instructions for providing access to a snapshot dataset, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:

• generating a link, wherein the link specifies an inode number of a source file and wherein the link does not specify a snapshot dataset identifier;
• retrieving, upon activation of the link, a snapshot identifier corresponding to a most recent snapshot dataset;
• identifying the most recent snapshot dataset using the snapshot identifier;
• and
• determining whether the most recent snapshot dataset includes an inode corresponding to the inode number specified in the link.

A computer readable medium on a client information processing system including computer instructions for providing access to a snapshot dataset, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:

• generating a directory including a subdirectory entry for each snapshot of a source file, wherein each subdirectory entry includes a link to a snapshot of the source file;
• retrieving, upon an access request into the directory, a subdirectory entry corresponding to a most recent snapshot of the source file;
• and
• providing, from the retrieved subdirectory entry, a link to a snapshot of the source file.

A system on a client information processing system for providing access to a snapshot dataset, comprising:

• a link, wherein the link specifies an inode number of a source file and wherein the link does not specify a snapshot dataset identifier;
• a snapshot identifier corresponding to a most recent snapshot dataset, wherein the snapshot identifier is retrieved upon activation of the link,
• means for identifying the most recent snapshot dataset using the snapshot identifier;
• and
• an inode corresponding to the inode number specified in the link, wherein the inode is included in the most recent snapshot dataset.

A system on a client information processing system for providing access to a snapshot dataset, comprising:

• a directory including a subdirectory entry for each snapshot of a source file, wherein each subdirectory entry includes a link to a snapshot of the source file;
• a subdirectory entry corresponding to a most recent snapshot of the source file, wherein the subdirectory entry is retrieved upon an access request into the directory;
• and
• a link to a snapshot of the source file, wherein the link is provided by the retrieved subdirectory entry.