Fixed size extents for variable size deduplication segments

摘要

Mechanisms are provided for maintaining variable size deduplication segments using fixed size extents. Variable size segments are identified and maintained in a datastore suitcase. Duplicate segments need not be maintained redundantly but can be managed by updating reference counts associated with the segments in the datastore suitcase. Segments are maintained using fixed size extents. A minor increase in storage overhead removes the need for inefficient recompaction when a segment is removed from the datastore suitcase. Fixed size extents can be reallocated for storage of new segments.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving a data stream at an interface; performing segment boundary identification and segment fingerprinting to generate a plurality of variable size segments including a first segment; accessing a deduplication dictionary to determine whether the first segment is maintained in one or more datastore suitcases; determining a first number of fixed sized extents associated with the one or more datastore suitcases needed to maintain the first segment; maintaining the first segment in a plurality of contiguous fixed size extents in a single datastore suitcase,
wherein after the first segment is deleted, the plurality of contiguous fixed size extents in the datastore suitcase used to maintain the now deleted first segment are used to maintain portions of a plurality of new segments without having to perform recompaction.