Performing a non-disruptive upgrade of data in a storage system

An apparatus for performing a non-disruptive upgrade of data in a storage system that includes a plurality of storage devices, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

• updating system software in the storage system, wherein the updated system software utilizes metadata in a new data format and a previously installed version of the system software utilizes metadata in an old data format, wherein the new data includes metadata describing a volume of data;
• wherein the old data includes metadata describing the volume of data;
• creating new data in the new data format, wherein the new data includes a reference to old data in the old data format, wherein the new data and the old data are associated with the volume of data, and wherein system software in the storage system can utilize data in the new data format and the old data format;
• determining that a portion of the volume has changed;
• and
• responsive to determining that the portion of the volume has changed, updating the new data to include:
• a reference to old data associated with a portion of the volume that precedes the changed portion of the volume;
• new data associated with the changed portion of the volume, wherein the new data associated with the changed portion of the volume is in the new data format;
• and
• a reference to old data associated with a portion of the volume that follows the changed portion of the volume.

A computer program product for performing a non-disruptive upgrade of data in a storage system that includes a plurality of storage devices and a storage controller, the computer program product disposed upon a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

• updating system software in the storage system, wherein the updated system software utilizes metadata in a new data format and a previously installed version of the system software utilizes metadata in an old data format, wherein the new data includes metadata describing a volume of data;
• wherein the old data includes metadata describing the volume of data;
• creating new data in the new data format, wherein the new data includes a reference to old data in the old data format, wherein the new data and the old data are associated with the volume of data, and wherein system software in the storage system can utilize data in the new data format and the old data format;
• determining that a portion of the volume has changed;
• and
• responsive to determining that the portion of the volume has changed, updating the new data to include:
• a reference to old data associated with a portion of the volume that precedes the changed portion of the volume;
• new data associated with the changed portion of the volume, wherein the new data associated with the changed portion of the volume is in the new data format;
• and
• a reference to old data associated with a portion of the volume that follows the changed portion of the volume.