Mechanism for replicating and maintaining files in a spaced-efficient manner

A computer-implemented method for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said method comprising:

• receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• in response to said request, creating a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• receiving a request to modify said new file;
• and
• in response to said request to modify said new file, modifying said new file without modifying said current file.

A computer-implemented method for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said method comprising:

• receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• in response to said request, creating a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• receiving a request to modify said current file;
• and
• in response to said request to modify said current file, modifying said current file without modifying said new file.

A computer-implemented method for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said method comprising:

• receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• in response to said request, creating a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• wherein said new identifier comprises a file descriptor, and wherein said method further comprises:
• linking, in response to a request from an entity, said file descriptor to a new file name.

A computer-implemented method for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said method comprising:

• receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• in response to said request, creating a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• wherein each of said plurality of data blocks has a reference value associated therewith, and wherein said method further comprises:
• updating the reference value of each of said plurality of data blocks to indicate that said new file and said current file are associated with said plurality of data blocks.

A computer-implemented method for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said method comprising:

• receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• in response to said request, creating a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• receiving a request to modify said new file;
• modifying said new file in response to said request to modify said new file, wherein said new file is only accessible by an entity that sent said request to modify said new file;
• and
• upon completion of said modifying of said new file, associating said new file with said current identifier, such that said new file replaces said current file.

An apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a request to replicate a current file, wherein said current file is a specific file within a file system that comprises a plurality of files, and wherein said current file has a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith;
• a mechanism for creating, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• and
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file without duplicating any of said plurality of data blocks;
• wherein said current file is replicated without taking a snapshot of said entire file system.

An apparatus for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• a mechanism for creating, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• a mechanism for receiving a request to modify said new file;
• and
• a mechanism for modifying said new file, in response to said request to modify said new file, without modifying said current file.

An apparatus for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• a mechanism for creating, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• a mechanism for receiving a request to modify said current file;
• and
• a mechanism for modifying said current file, in response to said request to modify said current file, without modifying said new file.

An apparatus for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• a mechanism for creating, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• wherein said new identifier comprises a file descriptor, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
• a mechanism for linking, in response to a request from an entity, said file descriptor to a new file name.

An apparatus for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• a mechanism for creating, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• wherein each of said plurality of data blocks has a reference value associated therewith, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
• a mechanism for updating the reference value of each of said plurality of data blocks to indicate that said new file and said current file are associated with said plurality of data blocks.

An apparatus for replicating a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a request to replicate said current file;
• a mechanism for creating, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• a mechanism for receiving a request to modify said new file;
• a mechanism for modifying said new file in response to said request to modify said new file, wherein said new file is only accessible by an entity that sent said request to modify said new file;
• and
• a mechanism for associating said new file with said current identifier upon completion of said modifying of said new file, such that said new file replaces said current file.

A computer-readable medium comprising:

• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to replicate a current file, wherein said current file is a specific file within a file system that comprises a plurality of files, and wherein said current file has a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to create, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• and
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file without duplicating any of said plurality of data blocks;
• wherein said current file is replicated without taking a snapshot of said entire file system.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to replicate a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said computer-readable medium comprising:

• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to replicate said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to create, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to modify said new file;
• and
• instructions for causing one or more processors to modify said new file, in response to said request to modify said new file, without modifying said current file.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to replicate a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said computer-readable medium comprising:

• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to replicate said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to create, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to modify said current file;
• and
• instructions for causing one or more processors to modify said current file, in response to said request to modify said current file, without modifying said new file.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to replicate a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said computer-readable medium comprising:

• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to replicate said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to create, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• wherein said new identifier comprises a file descriptor, and wherein said computer-readable medium further comprises:
• instructions for causing one or more processors to link, in response to a request from an entity, said file descriptor to a new file name.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to replicate a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said computer-readable medium comprising:

• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to replicate said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to create, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• wherein each of said plurality of data blocks has a reference value associated therewith, and wherein said computer-readable medium further comprises:
• instructions for causing one or more processors to update the reference value of each of said plurality of data blocks to indicate that said new file and said current file are associated with said plurality of data blocks.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to replicate a current file, said current file having a current identifier and a plurality of data blocks associated therewith, said computer-readable medium comprising:

• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to replicate said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to create, in response to said request, a new file that is separate and distinct from said current file, said new file having a new identifier associated therewith;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said plurality of data blocks such that both said current file and said new file are associated with said plurality of data blocks, thereby rendering said new file a replica of said current file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to receive a request to modify said new file;
• instructions for causing one or more processors to modify said new file in response to said request to modify said new file, wherein said new file is only accessible by an entity that sent said request to modify said new file;
• and
• instructions for causing one or more processors to associate said new file with said current identifier upon completion of said modifying of said new file, such that said new file replaces said current file.