Patent ID: 8204858

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving a command to reset a first snapshot of a master volume, wherein the first snapshot comprises a first array partition and first snapshot data, wherein the command to reset transfers the first array partition from the first snapshot to a second snapshot; marking the first snapshot for reset; after marking the first snapshot for reset, marking the first snapshot for deletion, wherein each of marking the first snapshot for reset and marking the first snapshot for deletion comprises one of setting or resetting a bit in a memory; allowing access to the first snapshot data while the first snapshot is marked for reset; disassociating the first array partition from the first snapshot; associating the first array partition with second snapshot data of the master volume to create the second snapshot; after the second snapshot has been associated with the first array partition, releasing the reset mark associated with the first snapshot; deleting the first snapshot; and updating the first array partition to reflect at least one characteristic of the master volume at a point-in-time associated with the second snapshot. updating the first array partition to reflect at least one characteristic of the master volume at a point-in-time associated with the second snapshot.