Database cloning

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• maintaining, by a processor, a clone database in a clone space without storing an entire copy of the database and without requiring a snapshot function from an underlying storage device;
• receiving a database command to access a data block of the clone database;
• determining that the data block is not stored in the clone space;
• receiving the data block from a backup copy of the database;
• and
• in response to the database command comprising a write operation:
• performing the write operation to update the data block;
• and
• storing the updated data block in the clone space.

An apparatus comprising:

• a database-managing module to maintain a clone database in a clone space without storing an entire copy of the database and without requiring a snapshot function from an underlying storage device;
• an interface module to receive a database command to access a data block of the clone database;
• a data-block-checking module to determine that the data block is not stored in the clone space, the interface module being further configured to receive the data block from a backup copy of the database;
• and
• in response to the database command comprising a write operation, the database-managing module being further configured to:
• perform the write operation to update the data block;
• and
• store the updated data block in the clone space.