File System Manager Preserving Clone Relationships
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing file systems lose storage space efficiency when cloning files are copied or backed up to destinations that do not support file cloning, leading to potential restoration issues and increased storage needs.
Innovation Solution
A method to identify and preserve clone relationships between files by using a file system manager that enters file extent information into a data structure, sorts it by physical block offsets, and maintains clone relationships during copy, backup, and restore operations, even across storage devices that do not support file cloning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complete copies of cloned files are copied to destination storage devices, then the files can be backed up and restored, but storage space efficiency is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file copy operation into two parts: copying only the unique data portions (diffs) rather than complete files. The file system identifies clone relationships and copies only the modified portions to the destination, reducing storage space while maintaining backup integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses selective copying by creating a mapping between source and destination file systems. Instead of copying complete files, it copies only the differential portions and uses the mapping information to reconstruct the full file structure at the destination, preserving clone relationships.
2Reliability
If complete copies of cloned files are copied to non-cloning storage devices, then files can be backed up, but restoration cannot maintain storage space efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mapping data structure as an intermediary that records the relationship between source clone files and their corresponding destination representations. This mapping enables the restoration process to understand which portions were copied and reconstruct clone relationships even when the destination storage device doesn't support native cloning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification and mapping of clone relationships before the actual copy operation. By pre-establishing the mapping between source and destination file systems, the system prepares the necessary information to maintain storage efficiency during subsequent restoration operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If clone relationships are not preserved during copy operations, then simple copy procedures can be used, but restoration may fail or require additional storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal mapping mechanism that works across different storage devices regardless of whether they support cloning. The same mapping approach enables efficient copying to both cloning-capable and non-cloning storage devices, providing a unified solution that maintains reliability across diverse environments.
Data Source
AI summary
The described embodiments set forth techniques for preserving clone relationships between files at a computing device. In particular, the techniques involve identifying clone relationships between files in conjunction with performing operations on the files where it can be beneficial to preserve the clone relationships. The operations can include, for example, preserving clone relationships between files that are being copied from a source storage device (that supports file cloning) to a destination storage device that supports file cloning. Additionally, the operations can include preserving clone relationships when backing up and restoring files between a source storage device (that supports file cloning) and a destination storage device that does not support file cloning. In this manner, the various benefits afforded by the clone relationships between files can be retained even as the files are propagated to destination storage devices that may or may not support file cloning.