초록 ▼

A system and method efficiently manage clones of an object group. A base storage area contains metadata for each of multiple objects in the object group. The metadata for each object identifies data within each object. The system receives a request to clone a base storage area, and in response, the

A system and method efficiently manage clones of an object group. A base storage area contains metadata for each of multiple objects in the object group. The metadata for each object identifies data within each object. The system receives a request to clone a base storage area, and in response, the system creates a clone storage area containing an identification of the base storage area but not the metadata. If there is a subsequent request to update a portion of one of the objects, then the system copies the portion, copies the metadata into the clone storage area for the one object, makes the update to the object copy and changes the metadata in the base storage area to identify the portion copy instead of the original portion. If there is no subsequent request to update any of the multiplicity of objects, then the system does not copy the metadata for any of the multiplicity of objects into the clone storage area.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for managing objects in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:receiving a request to clone a base storage area, said base storage area containing metadata for each of multiple objects, said metadata for each object identifying data within said each object;

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for managing objects in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:receiving a request to clone a base storage area, said base storage area containing metadata for each of multiple objects, said metadata for each object identifying data within said each object;in response to said request, creating a clone storage area containing an identification of said base storage area but not containing said metadata; andif there is a subsequent request to update a portion of one of said objects, then determining that said clone storage area exists and consequently copying said portion, copying said metadata into said clone storage area for said one object, making said update to the portion copy and changing said metadata in said base storage area to identify said portion copy instead of said portion,if there is no subsequent request to update any of said multiplicity of objects, then not copying the metadata for any of said multiplicity of objects into said clone storage area.