Patent ID: 8037026

Claim:
A method for a data storage system to allow a user on a host system coupled to the data storage system to update a snapshot in the data storage system, the user being without general editing privileges in the data storage system, the method comprising: creating a read-write snapshot in the data storage system, the read-write snapshot being a copy of production data, the production data being in the data storage system; exporting a logical unit number (LUN) assigned to the read-write snapshot to the host system; providing the user with read and write access to the read-write snapshot but not write access to the production data; receiving a request to update the read-write snapshot from the user; determining from an access control list if the user is permitted to update the read-write snapshot; when the user is permitted to update the read-write snapshot, updating the read-write snapshot by: removing the LUN from the data storage system, comprising recording parameters of the LUN and deleting the LUN from the data storage system; creating a new read-write snapshot that is another copy of the production data; restoring the LUN for the new read-write snapshot, comprising recreating the LUN from the recorded parameters and exporting the LUN to the host system, the recreated LUN and the deleted LUN having the same logical unit number; and providing the user with read and write access to the new read-write snapshot but not write access to the production data.