Patent ID: 8397038
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of initializing a file stored on a storage device, the method comprising: creating, by a file system, a file descriptor for the file, wherein the file descriptor comprises entries for file blocks allocated to the file, each entry comprising an address for a corresponding file block and an indicator that if in a first state, indicates that the corresponding file block is to be zeroed and if in a second state, indicates that the corresponding file block is not to be zeroed; and upon receiving an I/O operation for the file, consulting, by the file system, the file descriptor and indicators of file blocks corresponding to the I/O operation in order to determine whether or not the file blocks are to be zeroed and to issue corresponding I/O requests to the storage device based on whether or not the file blocks are to be zeroed.