System and method for determining a number of overwitten blocks between data containers
US7506111B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/067
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for quickly and efficiently determining the number of overwritten blocks between two data containers served by a storage system is provided. A novel vbnspace namespace is provided that is “parallel” to the file system (the “active” file system) and tracks location information (i.e., indirect block pointers) of level 0 data blocks within each data container, e.g., the active file system or a PCPI. The vbnspace namespace effectively eliminates the conventional level 0 data blocks from a storage viewpoint to thereby reduce the quantity of information needed to determine the number of overwritten blocks between the data containers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.