System of compressing a log stream using a scratch pad of logically deleted entries

摘要

Managing a log stream of a computer system. An entry of a log stream, desired to be removed from the log stream, but not eligible for removal, is logically deleted. Logical deletion keeps the entry on the log stream and indicates that the entry can be removed from the log stream when it is eligible. When the entry is eligible, it is removed. If a desired entry remains at the tail of the log stream for a given period of time, thus not allowing the removal of one or more undesired entries, the desired entry is rewritten to the head of the log stream and deleted from the tail. Thereafter, other logically deleted entries eligible for deletion are removed from the log stream.