Copy on write storage conservation systems and methods

摘要

Systems and methods for copy on write storage conservation are presented. In one embodiment a copy on write storage conservation method includes creating and mounting a snapshot; mounting a snapshot; monitoring interest in the snapshot; initiating a copy on write discard process before a backup or replication is complete; and deleting the snapshot when the backup or replication is complete. In one embodiment the method also includes marking a file as do not copy on write. In one embodiment, the copy on write discard process includes discarding copy on write data when a corresponding read on the file in the snapshot is successful. Initiating a copy on write discard process can be done at a variety of levels (e.g., a file level, an extent level, a block-level, etc.).

主权项

1. A copy on write storage conservation method comprising:
creating and mounting a snapshot; monitoring interest in the snapshot, including determining that a backup or replication process has read copy on write data and is no longer interested in the copy on write data, wherein the determining is based at least in part on a pattern of reading file data including the copy on write data; initiating a copy on write discard process before the backup or replication process is complete; and un-mounting and deleting the snapshot when the backup or replication process is complete.