System for providing instantaneous access to a snapshot Op data stored on a storage medium for offline analysis

A database and warehousing system, comprising:

• a transaction host for generating data for storage in a database for off-line analysis;
• a data analysis host for mining said database comprising an interface adapted to send a request for a snapshot of the data generated by the transaction host;
• a storage media for storing the data;
• a media controller coupled to said transaction host and said interface for providing the snapshot instantaneously in response to the request,
• the media controller further comprising:
• means for receiving the data from the transaction host;
• means for storing an original copy of the data in the storage media as an original copy having a plurality of mirror images;
• means for receiving a command from the data analysis host requesting a snapshot of the data;
• and
• means for providing a snapshot copy of the data to the data analysis host in response to the command, the snapshot copy comprising one of the plurality of mirror images, whereby the data analysis host has instantaneous access to a snapshot of the original data for off-line processing.

A method of providing instantaneous access to a snapshot of a mirrored copy in a data base to be mined by a data analysis host for off-line analysis, the data being generated by a transaction host, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a media controller coupled to said hosts receiving and storing data in the data base, transactions from the transaction host in the form of an original copy having a plurality of mirror images;
• generating a command at the data analysis hosts requesting a snapshot of the data in one of said mirror images
• generating a snapshot of the data from one of the plurality of mirror images in said data base;
• and
• coupling the snapshot copy via said media controller to the data analysis host, whereby said data analysis host has instantaneous access to the snapshot copy of said data base, and wherein the analysis host processes the data off-line using the snapshot copy.