Generating storage reports using volume snapshots

In a computing environment having a volume snapshot mechanism, a system comprising:

• a processor;
• a computer memory;
• a volume set of at least one storage volume, the volume set including at least one live volume;
• a receiver configured for receiving a request for a storage report that corresponds to a subset of files of a volume set, the volume set including those volumes and mount point volumes that are to be scanned to produce the storage report, the request including an indication of one or more specific volume set properties that are to be scanned for in a snapshot scan, the storage report including at least a portion of information corresponding to the results of the snapshot scan;
• a caller configured for calling the volume snapshot mechanism to request a snapshot set, the snapshot set comprising a volume snapshot for each storage volume of the set of storage volumes;
• a scanner for scanning, using the computer memory, the snapshot set for files of the subset that have the one or more specific properties indicated in the request;
• and
• a storage report generator for generating at least one storage report comprising information of files that meet at least one specified criterion by scanning the snapshot set, the storage report generator being configured to scan at least a portion of information in the snapshot that corresponds to information stored on the storage volume, such that the report is generated by scanning the snapshot set and without scanning the storage volume set including the at least one live volume, the report including the results of the specific properties scanned for in the snapshot scan, the report being generated from a single point in time regardless of the number of snapshot volumes scanned ensuring that each file is reported once and that accurate trending and historical analysis are provided.

At least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor perform steps, comprising:

• receiving a request for a storage report that corresponds to a subset of files of a volume set, the volume set including those volumes and mount point volumes that are to be scanned to produce the storage report, the request corresponding to a volume set of at least one storage volume from which the storage report is to be generated, and associated with information corresponding to the subset of files for which the report is to be generated, the request including metadata that indicates one or more specific volume set properties that are to be scanned for in a snapshot scan, the storage report including at least a portion of information corresponding to the results of the snapshot scan;
• calling a snapshot mechanism to request a snapshot set, the snapshot set comprising a volume snapshot for each storage volume of the set of storage volumes, the storage volume set including at least one live volume;
• scanning the snapshot set for files of the subset that have the one or more specific properties indicated in the metadata of the request;
• and
• receiving the snapshot set at a storage report generator for generating a report, the storage report generator being configured to scan at least a portion of information in the snapshot that corresponds to information stored on the storage volume, such that the report is generated by scanning the snapshot set and without scanning the storage volume set including the at least one live volume, the report including the results of the specific properties scanned for in the snapshot scan, the report being generated from a single point in time regardless of the number of snapshot volumes scanned ensuring that each file is reported once and that accurate trending and historical analysis are provided.