US 2014/0195754 A1 · SNAPSHOTS IN A STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A system and method for creating and managing snapshots. Mediums are recorded and maintained, all of which are read-only except for the most recent mediums in use by a volume. Multiple volumes may be maintained, including a first volume which points to a first medium. When a snapshot of the first volume is taken, a second medium is created that points to the first medium. The first volume is also updated to point to the second medium. The first medium becomes the underlying medium of the second medium, and lookups are performed initially on the second medium and then on the first medium if the data is not located in the second medium.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer system comprising:

one or more storage devices;
and
a storage controller;
wherein in response to receiving a request to take a snapshot of a first volume associated with a first medium, the storage controller is configured to:
create a second medium;
store an indication that the first medium underlies the second medium;
associate the first volume with the second medium;
and
store an indication that the first medium is read-only.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/046,870Filed 4 Oct 2013

Priority

10 Jan 2013

Published

10 Jul 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification34 codes

G06F 3/065
Horizontal data movement in storage systems, i.e. moving data in between storage devices or systems: replication mechanisms
G06F 3/0604
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
G06F 3/0605
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management: by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
G06F 3/0608
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: saving storage space on storage systems

Snapshots in a storage system

Life of this patent

Snapshots in a storage system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20