Overlay snaps

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating a first overlay snap, the first overlay snap being generated before a first snapshot of a non-empty storage volume is created, the first overlay snap being empty when generated containing corresponding empty entries for each storage location of the storage volume; and

writing a first data stream to the first overlay snap, the first overlay snap including changes from the first data stream for the storage volume as new data,

wherein writing the first data stream to the first overlay snap comprises generating first pointers overwriting respective entries corresponding to the storage locations of the storage volume being written to, the first pointers indicating locations of the new data written to the overlay snap, wherein the new data written to the first overlay snap from the first data stream is physically stored in the first overlay snap, and any entries not receiving changes in the first data stream remain empty, the generated first pointers pointing to the new data stored within the first overlay snap, and

wherein generating the first overlay snap further comprises generating first null pointers for the empty locations that do not have new data written to the overlay snap, wherein the first overlay snap comprises the first pointers and the first null pointers.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first null pointers comprise pointers pointing to nowhere.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the method further comprising attaching the first overlay snap to a storage volume to generate a new storage volume.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the method further comprising attaching the first overlay snap to a storage volume to generate the first snapshot, wherein the first snapshot records information of a block device or a file system at a first point in time.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the method further comprising generating a second overlay snap by generating a second snapshot of a logical storage volume, wherein the second snapshot records information of a block device or a file system at a second point in time, writing a second data stream to the second overlay snap, generating second pointers indicating locations of new data written to the second overlay snap, and generating second null pointers for locations that do not have new data written to the second overlay snap, wherein the second overlay snap comprises the second pointers and the second null pointers, wherein the second data stream is written to the second overlay snap in parallel to the first data stream being written to the first overlay snap.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the first overlay snap and the second overlay snap are included in a list, and the list is attached to a storage volume to generate a new storage volume.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the first overlay snap and the second overlay snap are included in a list, and the list is attached to a storage volume to generate a snapshot from the list, wherein the snapshot records information of a block device or a file system at a point in time.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overlay snap is generated by generating a snapshot of an empty volume.

9. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions, the instructions causing a machine to:

generate a first overlay snap, the first overlay snap being generated before a first snapshot of a non-empty storage volume is created, the first overlay snap being empty when generated containing corresponding empty entries for each storage location of the storage volume; and

write a first data stream to the first overlay snap, the first overlay snap including changes from the first data stream for the storage volume as new data, wherein writing the first data stream to the first overlay snap comprises generating first pointers overwriting respective entries corresponding to the storage locations of the storage volume being written to, the first pointers indicating locations of the new data written to the overlay snap, wherein the new data written to the first overlay snap from the first data stream is physically stored in the first overlay snap, and any entries not receiving changes in the first data stream remain empty, the generated first pointers pointing to the new data stored within the first overlay snap, and

wherein generating the first overlay snap further comprises generating first null pointers for the empty locations that do not have new data written to the overlay snap, wherein the first overlay snap comprises the first pointers and the first null pointers.

10. The article of claim 9 , wherein the first null pointers comprise pointers pointing to nowhere.

11. The article of claim 9 , the instructions further causing the machine to attach the first overlay snap to a storage volume to generate a new storage volume.

12. The article of claim 9 , the instructions further causing the machine to attach the first overlay snap to a storage volume to generate the first snapshot, wherein the first snapshot records information of a block device or a file system at a first point in time.

13. The article of claim 9 , the instructions further causing the machine to generate a second overlay snap by generating a second snapshot of a logical storage volume, wherein the second snapshot records information of a block device or a file system at a second point in time, write a second data stream to the second overlay snap, generate second pointers indicating locations of new data written to the second overlay snap, and generate second null pointers for locations that do not have new data written to the second overlay snap, wherein the second overlay snap comprises the second pointers and the second null pointers, wherein the second data stream is written to the second overlay snap in parallel to the first data stream being written to the first overlay snap.

14. The article of claim 13 , wherein the first overlay snap and the second overlay snap are included in a list, and the list is attached to a storage volume to generate a new storage volume.

15. The article of claim 13 , wherein the first overlay snap and the second overlay snap are included in a list, and the list is attached to a storage volume to generate a snapshot from the list, wherein the snapshot records information of a block device or a file system at a point in time.

16. The article of claim 9 , wherein the overlay snap is generated by generating a snapshot of an empty volume.

17. A computer-implemented method for continuous data replication of a source volume on a source storage device, comprising:

generating a first overlay snap of a replica volume on a target storage device, the first overlay snap being generated before a first snapshot of a non-empty source volume is created, the first overlay snap being empty when generated containing corresponding empty entries for each storage location of the source volume;

writing a first data stream from the source storage device to the first overlay snap, the first overlay snap including changes from the first data stream for the source volume as new data, wherein writing the first data stream to the first overlay snap comprises generating first pointers overwriting respective entries corresponding to the storage locations of the source volume being written to, the first pointers indicating locations of the new data written to the first overlay snap, wherein the new data written to the first overlay snap from the first data stream is physically stored in the first overlay snap, and any entries not receiving changes in the first data stream remain empty, the generated first pointers pointing to the new data stored within the first overlay snap, wherein the first overlay snap is generated by generating first null pointers for the empty locations that do not have new data written to the first overlay snap, wherein the first overlay snap comprises the first pointers and the first null pointers;

receiving an initial data stream including taking a snapshot of the source storage device and performing a sweep on the snapshot; and

writing the initial data stream to the replica volume on the target storage device.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , the method further comprising, in response to completion of the initial data stream being written to the replica volume on the target storage device, attaching the first overlay snap to the replica volume on the target storage device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , the method further comprising generating a second overlay snap of the replica volume on the target storage device, and writing a second data stream from the source storage device to the second overlay snap.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , the method further comprising, in response to completion of the initial data stream being written to the replica volume on the target storage device, attaching the second overlay snap to the replica volume.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , the method further comprising periodically generating on the target storage device a new overlay snap of the replica volume, and writing a new data stream to the new overlay snap.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , in response to completion of the initial data stream being written to the replica volume on the target storage device, attaching each new overlay snap to the replica volume to generate a new volume, each new volume recording information of a block device or a file system at a new point in time, and storing as an archive each of new volumes.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the initial data stream is read directly from the source storage device.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the initial data stream comprises a snapshot of the source volume of the source storage device.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the first overlay snap is generated by generating a first snapshot of a logical storage volume, and writing the data stream to the first overlay snap.

26. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions for continuous data replication of a source volume on a source storage device, the instructions causing a machine to:

generate a first overlay snap of a replica volume on a target storage device, the first overlay snap being generated before a first snapshot of a non-empty source volume is created, the first overlay snap being empty when generated containing corresponding empty entries for each storage location of the source volume;

write a first data stream from the source storage device to the first overlay snap, the first overlay snap including changes from the first data stream for the source volume as new data;

receive an initial data stream, including taking a snapshot of the source storage device and performing a sweep on the snapshot, wherein writing the first data stream to the first overlay snap comprises generating first pointers overwriting respective entries corresponding to the storage locations of the source volume being written to, the first pointers indicating locations of the new data written to the first overlay snap, wherein the new data written to the first overlay snap from the first data stream is physically stored in the first overlay snap, and any entries not receiving changes in the first data stream remain empty, the generated first pointers pointing to the new data stored within the first overlay snap, wherein the first overlay snap is generated by generating first null pointers for the empty locations that do not have new data written to the first overlay snap, wherein the first overlay snap comprises the first pointers and the first null pointers; and

write the initial data stream to the replica volume on the target storage device, wherein the circuitry comprises at least one of a processor, a memory, a programmable logic device, or a logic gate.

27. The article of claim 26 , the instructions further causing the machine to, in response to completion of the initial data stream being written to the replica volume on the target storage device, attach the first overlay snap to the replica volume on the target storage device.

28. The article of claim 26 , the instructions further causing the machine to generate a second overlay snap of the replica volume on the target storage device, and writing a second data stream from the second storage device to the second overlay snap.

29. The article of claim 28 , the instructions further causing the machine to, in response to completion of the initial data stream being written to the replica volume on the target storage device, attaching the second overlay snap to the replica volume.

30. The article of claim 26 , the instructions further causing the machine to, periodically generate on the target storage device a new overlay snap of the replica volume, and writing a new data stream to the new overlay snap.

31. The article of claim 30 , the instructions further causing the machine to, in response to completion of the initial data stream being written to the replica volume on the target storage device, attach each new overlay snap to the replica volume to generate a new volume, each new volume recording information of a block device or a file system at a new point in time, and storing as an archive each of new volumes.

32. The article of claim 26 , wherein the initial data stream is read directly from the source storage device.

33. The article of claim 26 , wherein the initial data stream comprises a snapshot of the source volume of the source storage device.

34. The article of claim 26 , wherein the first overlay snap is generated by generating a first snapshot of a logical storage volume, and writing the data stream to the first overlay snap.