Host based software block level replication using metadata indicating changed data objects at source and secondary nodes

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:

• synchronizing a set of data objects stored at both a replication source node and a secondary node;
• identifying changed data objects out of the set of data objects from the replication source node that have been modified during a time period between a first time and a subsequent second time;
• transmitting metadata indicating the changed data objects from the replication source node to the secondary node;
• generating a snapshot at the second time on the secondary node by using the metadata;
• and
• mounting an application onto the snapshot at the secondary node by using the synchronized set of data objects stored at the secondary node and the metadata, wherein the application is mounted on the snapshot prior to transmitting the changed data objects from the replication source node to the secondary node, and wherein the set of data objects stored at both the replication source node and the secondary node are synchronized prior to mounting the application.

A volume replication system, comprising:

• a computer system having a processor coupled to a computer readable storage media and executing computer readable code which causes the computer system to implement a snapshot manager module for a replication source node, wherein the snapshot manager module:
• synchronizes a set of data objects stored at both the replication source node and at a secondary node;
• identifies changed data objects out of the set of data objects from the replication source node that have been modified during a time period between a first time and a subsequent second time;
• transmits metadata indicating the changed data objects from the replication source node to the secondary node;
• acknowledges the generating of a snapshot at the second time on the secondary node based on the metadata;
• and
• mounts an application onto the snapshot at the secondary node by using the synchronized set of data objects stored at the secondary node and the metadata, wherein the application is mounted on the snapshot prior to transmitting the changed data objects from the replication source node to the secondary node, and wherein the set of data objects stored at both the replication source node and the secondary node are synchronized prior to mounting the application.