Apple Inc.
Techniques for performing incremental data backups

Abstract:

The embodiments set forth techniques for performing incremental backups of a source file system volume (FSV) managed by a source computing device. According to some embodiments, the source computing device can be configured to generate a current snapshot of the source FSV, where the current snapshot complements a previous snapshot of the source FSV (e.g., established during a previous backup). In some cases, to free up storage space, the data for files belonging to the source FSV can be stripped from the previous snapshot (where metadata for the files remains intact). Next, the source computing device can generate, within a destination storage device, a second snapshot of a destination FSV (that corresponds to the source FSV). In turn, the source computing device identifies changes made to the source FSV based on the current snapshot and the previous snapshot, and reflects the changes within the second snapshot of the destination FSV.