Patent ID: 7337198

Claim:
A computer implemented method for in-place preservation of file system objects during a clone operation, the method comprising the steps of: a cloning manager determining boundaries on a target storage medium the boundaries to completely contain a resultant file system to be created by the clone operation; the cloning manager identifying at least one protected area within the boundaries, the protected area to be overwritten by the clone operation with a portion of the resultant file system; the cloning manager identifying at least one in-place file system object at least partially within the boundaries, the in-place file system object not to be overwritten during the clone operation; the cloning manager storing, in a location that will not be affected by the clone operation, metadata concerning each in-place file system object at least partially within the boundaries; the cloning manager ensuring that each in-place file system object at least partially within the boundaries is not located in a protected area; and the cloning manager performing the clone operation, the clone operation comprising creating the resultant file system only in locations within the boundaries in which no in-place file system object is located.