Portable snapshot replication between storage systems

1. A method of protecting data stored on a storage system through the use of different storage levels, the method comprising:

creating a snapshot of a dataset stored on a storage system, wherein the snapshot includes user data and metadata, and wherein the metadata describes the storage layout of the dataset;

offloading the snapshot to a first storage level storage system; and

migrating, in accordance with a lifecycle policy, the snapshot from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system, wherein a copy of the metadata remains on the first storage level storage system after the snapshot is migrated from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein performance metrics for the first storage level storage system are better than performance metrics for the second storage level storage system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein migrating the snapshot from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system does not migrate the dataset through the storage system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lifecycle policy specifies a first set of one or more snapshots to be stored on the first storage level storage system and specifies a second set of one or more snapshots to be stored on the second storage level storage system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a metadata structure of the snapshots comprises a reverse delta layout expressed as a delta relative to a child snapshot.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of multiple snapshots is tagged with a given marker, and wherein each given marker corresponds to a level of storage at which a snapshot is to ultimately be stored.

7. A storage system for protecting data stored on a storage system through the use of different storage levels, the storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices, a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the storage system to carry out the steps of:

creating a snapshot of a dataset stored on a storage system, wherein the snapshot includes user data and metadata, and wherein the metadata describes the storage layout of the dataset;

offloading the snapshot to a first storage level storage system; and

migrating, in accordance with a lifecycle policy, the snapshot from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system, wherein a copy of the metadata remains on the first storage level storage system after the snapshot is migrated from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system.

8. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein performance metrics for the first storage level storage system are better than performance metrics for the second storage level storage system.

9. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein migrating the snapshot from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system does not migrate the dataset through the storage system.

10. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the lifecycle policy specifies a first set of one or more snapshots to be stored on the first storage level storage system and specifies a second set of one or more snapshots to be stored on the second storage level storage system.

11. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein a metadata structure of the snapshots comprises a reverse delta layout expressed as a delta relative to a child snapshot.

12. An apparatus for protecting data stored on a storage system through the use of different storage levels, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

creating a snapshot of a dataset stored on a storage system, wherein the snapshot includes user data and metadata, and wherein the metadata describes the storage layout of the dataset;

offloading the snapshot to a first storage level storage system; and

migrating, in accordance with a lifecycle policy, the snapshot from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system, wherein a copy of the metadata remains on the first storage level storage system after the snapshot is migrated from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein performance metrics for the first storage level storage system are better than performance metrics for the second storage level storage system.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein migrating the snapshot from the first storage level storage system onto a second storage level storage system does not migrate the dataset through the storage system.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the lifecycle policy specifies a first set of one or more snapshots to be stored on the first storage level storage system and specifies a second set of one or more snapshots to be stored on the second storage level storage system.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a metadata structure of the snapshots comprises a reverse delta layout expressed as a delta relative to a child snapshot.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each of multiple snapshots is tagged with a given marker, and wherein each given marker corresponds to a level of storage at which a snapshot is to ultimately be stored.