Patent ID: 10108647

Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a restore module of a storage system receives a request from a client device over a network for restoring a data stream stored in the storage system. In response to the request, the restore module identifies a sparse disk file stored in the storage system, where the sparse disk file represents the requested data stream. The sparse disk file includes payload blocks sparsely located and intertwined with metadata of the sparse disk file. A converter executed in a memory by a processor of the storage system converts the sparse disk file into a native disk file based on the payload blocks of the sparse disk file, using a fast-copy method without having physically copying data content of the payload blocks. A block-based accessing interface is provided to the client to allow the client accessing the native disk file. Each block of content represented by the native disk is accessed based on a block identifier and an offset indicating a location of the block within the native disk file.