Efficiently creating a snapshot of a large consistency group
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsShachar Fienblit, Sheli Rahav
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Preparation of a snapshot for data storage includes receiving a first command to prepare to create a snapshot of a set of data stored on at least one source storage volume in a data storage system. The data storage system is prepared to expedite creation of the snapshot in response to the first command. A second command to create the snapshot is received subsequent to the first command. The snapshot is created, in response to the second command, by copying the set of data onto at least one target storage volume at an event time.
Claims22
A method for data storage, comprising:
- receiving a first command to prepare to create a snapshot of a set of data stored on at least one source storage volume in a data storage system;
- in response to the first command, preparing the data storage system to expedite creation of the snapshot;
- receiving a second command, subsequent to the first command, to create the snapshot;
- and
- in response to the second command, creating the snapshot by copying the set of data onto at least one target storage volume at an event time.
A data storage system, comprising:
- a plurality of storage volumes, including at least one source storage volume and at least one target volume;
- and
- a storage controller, which is linked to the storage volumes and is operative to receive a first command to prepare to create a snapshot of a set of data stored on the at least one source storage volume and in response to the first command, to prepare the data storage system to facilitate creation of the snapshot, to receive a second command, subsequent to the first command, to create the snapshot, and to create the snapshot in response to the second command by copying the set of data onto the at least one target storage volume at an event time.
A computer software product, comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to receive a first command to prepare to create a snapshot of a set of data stored on at least one source storage volume in a data storage system, to prepare the data storage system to facilitate creation of the snapshot in response to the first command, to receive a second command, subsequent to the first command, to create the snapshot, and in response to the second command, to create the snapshot by copying the set of data onto at least one target storage volume at an event time.
Apparatus for data storage, comprising:
- a memory storing executable instructions;
- and
- a processor, which is linked to at least one source storage volume and at least one target storage volume, and which is operative under control of the instructions to receive a first command to prepare to create a snapshot of a set of data stored on the at least one source storage volume and in response to the first command, to prepare the data storage system to facilitate creation of the snapshot, and to receive a second command, subsequent to the first command, to create the snapshot, and to create the snapshot by copying the set of data onto the at least one target storage volume at an event time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.