IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,495,253
Granted Patent B2
US 9,495,253 · App. 14/656,998 · Granted Nov 15, 2016

Virtual snapshot system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,495,253
App. No.
14/656,998
Granted
Nov 15, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a method and system for creating, replicating, and providing access to virtual snapshots of a disk storage block of a disk storage system or subsystem. In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a virtual snapshot accessible to local users of a local data storage device. The virtual snapshot may direct local users to a snapshot stored on computer-readable storage medium at a remote data storage site, but give the appearance as if data of the corresponding snapshot is stored locally. The virtual snapshot is replaced by replication of the snapshot from the remote data storage site to the local data storage device. Each snapshot may relate to data of a logical data volume, the logical data volume being an abstraction of data blocks from one or more physical storage devices.

Claims (21)

1. A method of snapshot data replication between a plurality of data storage sites, the method comprising:

creating a virtual snapshot at a first data storage site, the virtual snapshot accessible to local users of the first data storage site and directing such users to a corresponding snapshot at a second data storage site; and

presenting to a user of the first data storage site, via the virtual snapshot, that data of the corresponding snapshot is retrievable from the first data storage site even though the snapshot data is stored at the second data storage site, and upon request for the snapshot data by the user of the first data storage site, retrieving the snapshot data from the second data storage site, such that it appears to the user of the first data storage site that the snapshot data was retrieved locally from the first data storage site.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the snapshot is a point-in-time copy of data for at least a portion of a logical data volume since a most previous snapshot.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the snapshot is a point-in-time copy of changes in data for at least a portion of a logical data volume since a most previous snapshot.

4. The method of claim 1 , further creating a virtual snapshot for each of a plurality of snapshots taken a spaced time intervals at the second data storage site.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising replicating the corresponding snapshot to the first data storage site.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting the virtual snapshot corresponding to the snapshot when the corresponding snapshot has completed replication to the first data storage site.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second data storage site is remotely located from the first data storage site.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at a third data storage site, creating a virtual snapshot, accessible to local users of the third data storage site and directing such users to a corresponding snapshot stored to at least one the first and second data storage sites, but giving the appearance to such users that data of the corresponding snapshot is stored locally at the third data storage site.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the third data storage site is remotely located from at least one of the first and second data storage sites.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising replicating the corresponding snapshot to the third data storage site from at least one the first and second data storage sites.

11. A data storage system comprising:

a snapshot generated at a first data storage site; and

a virtual snapshot created at a second data storage site, accessible to local users at the second data storage site and directing such users to the snapshot at the first data storage site, and presenting to users of the second data storage site that data of the snapshot is retrievable from the second data storage site even though such snapshot data is stored at the first data storage site;

wherein, upon receiving a request for the snapshot data by the user of the second data storage site, the data storage system retrieves the snapshot data from the first data storage site and provides the data to the user of the second data storage site so that it appears to the user of the second data storage device that the snapshot data was retrieved locally from the second data storage site.

12. The data storage system of claim 11 , wherein the first data storage site is remotely located from the second data storage site.

13. The data storage system of claim 11 , wherein the snapshot is a point-in-time copy of data for at least a portion of a logical data volume since a most previous snapshot.

14. The data storage system of claim 11 , wherein the snapshot is a point-in-time copy of changes in data for at least a portion of a logical data volume since a most previous snapshot.

15. The data storage system of claim 11 , further comprising replicating the snapshot at the first data storage site to the second data storage site.

16. The data storage system of claim 15 , further comprising deleting the virtual snapshot when the snapshot from the first data storage site has completed replication to the second data storage site.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035860 FRAME 0878 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0158 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035860 FRAME 0797 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040028/0551 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035858 FRAME 0612 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040017/0067 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 10, 2016
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 038058/0502 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035858/0612 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035860/0797 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035860/0878 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: PITTELKO, MICHAEL H.; OLSON, MARK DAVID
To: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 035160/0935 →