VMware, Inc.
Asynchronous unmap service

Abstract:

In one set of embodiments, a computer system can periodically run an unmap service configured to scan a subset of bitmaps maintained by a file system of the computer system. As part of scanning each bitmap in the subset, the unmap service can, for each bit in the bitmap: (1) check whether the bit indicates that a corresponding physical block address (PBA) on the storage backend is currently free; (2) upon determining that the bit indicates the PBA is currently free, identify an extent within the bitmap where the PBA resides; (3) check whether an unmap indicator associated with the extent indicates that at least one free PBA in the extent is not currently unmapped in the storage backend; and (4) upon determining that the unmap indicator indicates at least one free PBA in the extent is not currently unmapped in the storage backend, add the PBA to a list of PBAs to be unmapped.