Pure Storage, Inc.
Cloning a Managed Directory of a File System

Abstract:

An illustrative data storage system efficiently clones a managed directory of a file system. For example, the storage system generates a virtual clone of a managed directory of a file system such that modifications made to either of the managed directory or the virtual clone of the managed directory after the generation of the virtual clone of the managed directory are distinct from the other of the managed directory or the virtual clone of the managed directory. The managed directory and the virtual clone of the managed directory initially share block objects representing files and directories of a directory tree of the managed directory, such by including distinct references to the block objects. The system clones one or more of the block objects as needed when trigger events occur.