Copy method supplementing outboard data copy with previously instituted copy-on-write logical snapshot to create duplicate consistent with source data as of designated time

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform bulk copy operations comprising:

• creating a copy-on-write relationship between specified source data and an original image cache for updates from at least one designated host application, where responsive to at least a first update of each item of source data, an original image of said updated item of source data and its associated location are written to the original image cache;
• after completing the creating operation, utilizing an application outboard of the designated host application to copy all items of source data and their associated locations to a secondary data object without regard to whether the items of source data have been updated since creating the copy-on-write relationship;
• copying a specified amount of contents of the original image cache to the secondary data object, the specified amount comprises contents of the original image cache as of completion of the utilizing operation;
• permitting the copy-on-write relationship to continue during the utilizing operation and during at least part of the copying operation.

A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform bulk copy operations comprising:

• creating a copy-on-write relationship between specified source data and an original image cache for updates from at least one designated host application, where responsive to at least a first update of each item of source data, an original image of said updated item of source data and its associated location are written to the original image cache;
• after completing the creating operation, utilizing an application outboard of the designated host application to copy all items of source data and their associated locations to a secondary data object without regard to whether the items of source data have been updated since creating the copy-on-write relationship;
• copying a specified amount of contents of the original image cache to the secondary data object, the specified amount comprises contents of the original image cache as of completion of the utilizing operation;
• permitting the copy-on-write relationship to continue during the utilizing operation and during at least part of the copying operation.

A data storage system, comprising:

• a primary storage;
• a secondary storage;
• a computing machine;
• an interface coupling the server to the primary and secondary storage;
• wherein the computing machine is programmed to perform bulk copy operations including:
• creating a copy-on-write relationship between specified source data in the primary storage and an original image cache for updates from at least one designated host application, where responsive to at least a first update of each item of source data, an original image of said updated item of source data and its associated location are written to the original image cache;
• after completing the creating operation, utilizing an application outboard of the designated host application to copy all items of source data and their associated locations to a secondary data object without regard to whether the items of source data have been updated since creating the copy-on-write relationship;
• copying a specified amount of the original image cache to the secondary data object, the specified amount comprises contents of the original image cache as of completion of the utilizing operation;
• permitting the copy-on-write relationship to continue during the utilizing operation and during at least part of the copying operation.

A data storage system, comprising:

• primary means for storing data;
• secondary means for storing data;
• original image cache means for storing data;
• an interface coupled to the first and second means;
• computing means, coupled to the interface, for performing bulk copy operations by:
• creating a copy-on-write relationship between specified source data in the primary means and the original image cache means for updates from at least one designated host application, where responsive to at least a first update of each item of source data, an original image of said updated item of source data and its associated location are written to the original image cache means;
• after completing the creating operation, utilizing an application outboard of the designated host application to copy all items of source data and their associated locations to a secondary data object in the second means without regard to whether the items of source data have been updated since creating the copy-on-write relationship;
• copying a specified amount of the original image cache means to the secondary data object, the specified amount comprises contents of the original image cache as of completion of the utilizing operation;
• permitting the copy-on-write relationship to continue during the utilizing operation and during at least part of the copying operation.