System and method for providing data protection by using sparse files to represent images of data stored in block devices

摘要

Various systems and methods are disclosed for storing one or more point-in-time images of data stored in a block device in a sparse file. In one embodiment, a method involves identifying a block of data within a block device and copying the block of data to a sparse file. The block of data is identified in response to being modified. The sparse file stores an incremental image of data stored in the block device. In addition to storing an incremental image, sparse files can be used to store full images. Furthermore, a sparse file can store multiple images (full and/or incremental) of data stored in a block device.