Patent ID: 7502801
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for generating snapshots, comprising: a memory: a processor communicatively coupled to the memory: an input interface, communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, adapted to receive a first snapshot for a first plurality of source files in a file system, wherein the first snapshot comprises at least one invalid inode that contains an invalid disk address, wherein an invalid inode containing an invalid disk address indicates that metadata corresponding to the invalid inode is contained in one of a more recent snapshot and the source file system, and wherein the first plurality of source files comprises a subset of files within the file system that contains fewer than all of the files in the file system; and a storage, communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor and the input interface, the storage adapted to receive the first snapshot and store the first snapshot in response to the input interface receiving the first snapshot, the storage further adapted to store: a command interface adapted to accept a request for the first snapshot; and an output interface adapted to provide, in response to the command interface accepting the request, the first snapshot.