Repair of inconsistencies between data and metadata stored on a temporal volume using transaction log replay

A system comprising:

• a temporal volume comprising a computer readable storage medium for storing both present state data and non-present state data;
• data and metadata recorded on the temporal volume at each checkpoint of a plurality of checkpoints;
• and
• an intent log comprising a record of each transaction to be performed on the data and metadata stored at each checkpoint of the plurality of checkpoints on the temporal volume, wherein
• a process selects a first, second, and third checkpoint from the plurality of checkpoints on the temporal volume, wherein
• the first checkpoint is metadata consistent,
• the second checkpoint is recorded at a time after the first checkpoint,
• the second checkpoint is metadata inconsistent between data and metadata recorded at the second checkpoint, and
• the third checkpoint is recorded at a time after the first checkpoint but at a time before the second checkpoint,
• a process analyzes the data and intent log at the third checkpoint to detect an inconsistency between the data and metadata stored at the third checkpoint, wherein
• the metadata inconsistency at the third checkpoint contributes to the metadata inconsistency at the second checkpoint, and
• a process replays one or more transactions stored in the intent log at the third checkpoint to resolve an inconsistency between the data and metadata stored at the third checkpoint.

An apparatus comprising:

• a temporal volume comprising a computer readable storage medium for storing both present state data and non-present state data, wherein the data comprises a file system;
• means for selecting a first checkpoint from a plurality of checkpoints stored in the temporal volume, wherein
• the state of the file system is recorded at each checkpoint of the plurality of checkpoints, and
• the first checkpoint is metadata consistent;
• means for selecting a second checkpoint from the plurality of checkpoints stored in the temporal volume, wherein
• the second checkpoint is recorded at a time after the first checkpoint, and
• the second checkpoint is metadata inconsistent between data and metadata recorded at the second checkpoint;
• means for selecting a third checkpoint from the plurality of checkpoints stored in the temporal volume, in response to the selecting the second checkpoint, wherein
• the third checkpoint is recorded at a time after the first checkpoint but at a time before the second checkpoint;
• means for analyzing the file system to detect a metadata inconsistency at the third checkpoint, wherein
• the metadata inconsistency at the third checkpoint contributes to the metadata inconsistency at the second checkpoint;
• and
• means for resolving the metadata inconsistency at the third checkpoint upon detecting the metadata inconsistency at the third checkpoint by means for replaying the metadata intent log stored at the third checkpoint.