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An embodiment of the invention provides a method for improving efficiency in a system containing repeated snapshots of an original data store. A READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store is created. One or more READ-only enabled child VLUs, each storing a p

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for improving efficiency in a system containing repeated snapshots of an original data store. A READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store is created. One or more READ-only enabled child VLUs, each storing a point-in-time copy of the original data store, are created at distinct times. A search pointer and a propagation pointer are implemented on the parent VLU and on each child VLU. The search pointer of each child VLU is set to point to the next subsequently created child VLU, with the search pointer of a most recently created child VLU set to point to the parent VLU. The propagation pointer of each child VLU is set to point to the immediately previously created child VLU, with the propagation pointer of the parent VLU set to point to the most recently created child VLU.

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1. A method comprising:creating a READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store; creating one or more READ-only enabled child VLUs each storing a point-in-time copy of the original data store, the one or more child VLUs created at distinct times; implementing a

1. A method comprising:creating a READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store; creating one or more READ-only enabled child VLUs each storing a point-in-time copy of the original data store, the one or more child VLUs created at distinct times; implementing a search pointer and a propagation pointer on the parent VLU and on each child VLU; setting the search pointer of each child VLU to point to the next subsequently created child VLU, and set the search pointer of a most recently created child VLU to point to the parent VLU; and setting the propagation pointer of each child VLU to point to the immediately previously created child VLU, and set the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to point to the most recently created child VLU. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:receiving a WRITE operation to the parent VLU, the WRITE operation affecting one or more data blocks of the parent VLU; following the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to the most recently created child VLU; checking the most recently created child VLU to determine if the affected data blocks have been copied to the most recently created child VLU; propagating the affected data blocks to the most recently created child VLU if the affected data blocks have not been copied to the most recently created child VLU; and processing the WRITE operation. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the search pointer and the propagation pointer of each parent VLU and each child VLU are implemented within an associated metadata structure organized as a tree of metadata slabs, each tree of metadata slabs including a plurality of slabs, each slab containing a metadata table having a plurality of entries, each entry represents a contiguous range of block addresses and contains a cache pointer to a slot of a random access memory, the slot storing a data block corresponding to the block address, a block address range indicator to indicate the contiguous range of block addresses, and at least one slab pointer, each slab pointer pointing to a parent slab or a child slab.4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:a) receiving a READ operation to a requested VLU, the READ operation affecting one or more data blocks; b) checking the requested VLU to determine that the affected data blocks have not been copied to the requested VLU; c) following the local search pointer to a subsequently created VLU or to the parent VLU; d) checking the subsequently created VLU or the parent VLU for the affected data blocks; e) repeating operations c) and d) until the requested data blocks are located; and f) processing the READ request. 5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:receiving a command to create a rollback to a specified time; suspending the WRITE capability of the parent VLU; creating a new VLU, the new VLU READ/WRITE-enabled and having a search pointer and a propagation pointer; propagating all data blocks, from all child VLUs created subsequently to the specified time, to the new VLU, the propagation commencing with the most recently created child VLU, a most created copy of each data block copied to the new VLU; and setting the search pointer of the new VLU to point to the parent VLU, and setting the propagation pointer of the new VLU set to NULL. 6. A machine-readable medium having one or more executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a digital processing system, cause the digital processing system to perform a method, the method comprising:creating a READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store; creating one or more READ-only enabled child VLUs each storing a point-in-time copy of the original data store, the one or more child VLUs created at distinct times; implementing a search pointer and a propagation pointer on the parent VLU and on each child VLU; setting the search pointer of each child VLU to point to the next subsequently created child VLU, and set the search pointer of a most recently created child VLU to point to the parent VLU; and setting the propagation pointer of each child VLU to point to the immediately previously created child VLU, and set the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to point to the most recently created child VLU. 7. The machine-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the method further comprises:receiving a WRITE operation to the parent VLU, the WRITE operation affecting one or more data blocks of the parent VLU; following the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to the most recently created child VLU; checking the most recently created child VLU to determine if the affected data blocks have been copied to the most recently created child VLU; propagating the affected data blocks to the most recently created child VLU if the affected data blocks have not been copied to the most recently created child VLU; and processing the WRITE operation. 8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the search pointer and the propagation pointer of each parent VLU and each child VLU are implemented within an associated metadata structure organized as a tree of metadata slabs, each tree of metadata slabs including a plurality of slabs, each slab containing a metadata table having a plurality of entries, each entry represents a contiguous range of block addresses and contains a cache pointer to a slot of a random access memory, the slot storing a data block corresponding to the block address, a block address range indicator to indicate the contiguous range of block addresses, and at least one slab pointer, each slab pointer pointing to a parent slab or a child slab.9. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises:a) receiving a READ operation to a requested VLU, the READ operation affecting one or more data blocks; b) checking the requested VLU to determine that the affected data blocks have not been copied to the requested VLU; c) following the local search pointer to a subsequently created VLU or to the parent VLU; d) checking the subsequently created VLU or the parent VLU for the affected data blocks; e) repeating operations c) and d) until the requested data blocks are located; and f) processing the READ request. 10. A machine-readable medium having one or more executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a digital processing system, cause the digital processing system to perform a method, the method comprising:receiving a command to create a rollback to a specified time; suspending the WRITE capability of the parent VLU; creating a new VLU, the new VLU READ/WRITE-enabled and having a search pointer and a propagation pointer; propagating all data blocks, from all child VLUs created subsequently to the specified time, to the new VLU, the propagation commencing with the most recently created child VLU, a most created copy of each data block copied to the new VLU; and setting the search pointer of the new VLU to point to the parent VLU, and setting the propagation pointer of the new VLU set to NULL. 11. A data storage system comprising:a storage media; a processing system; and a memory, coupled to the processing system, characterized in that the memory has stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to create a READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store, create one or more READ-only enabled child VLUs each storing a point-in-time copy of the original data store, the one or more child VLUs created at distinct times, implement a search pointer and a propagation pointer on the parent VLU and on each child VLU, set the search pointer of each child VLU to point to the next subsequently created child VLU, set the search pointer of a most recently created child VLU to point to the parent VLU, set the propagation pointer of each child VLU to point to the immediately previously created child VLU, and set the propagation pointer of the parent VLU set to point to the most recently created child VLU. 12. The data storage system of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:receiving a WRITE operation to the parent VLU, the WRITE operation affecting one or more data blocks of the parent VLU; following the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to the most recently created child VLU; checking the most recently created child VLU to determine if the affected data blocks have been copied to the most recently created child VLU; propagating the affected data blocks to the most recently created child VLU if the affected data blocks have not been copied to the most recently created child VLU; and processing the WRITE operation. 13. The data storage system of claim 12 wherein the search pointer and the propagation pointer of each parent VLU and each child VLU are implemented within an associated metadata structure organized as a tree of metadata slabs, each tree of metadata slabs including a plurality of slabs, each slab containing a metadata table having a plurality of entries, each entry represents a contiguous range of block addresses and contains a cache pointer to a slot of a random access memory, the slot storing a data block corresponding to the block address, a block address range indicator to indicate the contiguous range of block addresses, and at least one slab pointer, each slab pointer pointing to a parent slab or a child slab.14. The data storage system of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:a) receiving a READ operation to a requested VLU, the READ operation affecting one or more data blocks; b) checking the requested VLU to determine that the affected data blocks have not been copied to the requested VLU; c) following the local search pointer to a subsequently created VLU or to the parent VLU; d) checking the subsequently created VLU or the parent VLU for the affected data blocks; e) repeating operations c) and d) until the requested data blocks are located; and f) processing the READ request. 15. A data storage system comprising:a storage media; a processing system; and a memory, coupled to the processing system, characterized in that the memory has stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method, the method comprising: receiving a command to create a rollback to a specified time; suspending the WRITE capability of the parent VLU; creating a new VLU, the new VLU READ/WRITE-enabled and having a search pointer and a propagation pointer; propagating all data blocks, from all child VLUs created subsequently to the specified time, to the new VLU, the propagation commencing with the most recently created child VLU, a most created copy of each data block copied to the new VLU; and setting the search pointer of the new VLU to point to the parent VLU, and setting the propagation pointer of the new VLU set to NULL. 16. A data storage apparatus comprising:means for creating a READ/WRITE enabled parent virtual logical unit (VLU) to store an original data store; means for creating one or more READ-only enabled child VLUs each storing a point-in-time copy of the original data store, the one or more child VLUs created at distinct times; means for linking each child VLU such that each child VLU can direct a progress of a search to other child VLUs or the parent VLU; and means for propagating data from the parent VLU to at least one of the child VLUs. 17. The data storage apparatus of claim 16 wherein means for linking includes:means for implementing a search pointer and a propagation pointer on the parent VLU and on each child VLU; means for setting the search pointer of each child VLU to point to the next subsequently created child VLU, and set the search pointer of a most recently created child VLU to point to the parent VLU; and means for setting the propagation pointer of each child VLU to point to the immediately previously created child VLU, and set the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to point to the most recently created child VLU. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:means for receiving a WRITE operation to the parent VLU, the WRITE operation affecting one or more data blocks of the parent VLU; means for following the propagation pointer of the parent VLU to the most recently created child VLU; means for checking the most recently created child VLU to determine if the affected data blocks have been copied to the most recently created child VLU; means for propagating the affected data blocks to the most recently created child VLU if the affected data blocks have not been copied to the most recently created child VLU; and means for processing the WRITE operation. 19. The data storage apparatus of claim 18 wherein the search pointer and the propagation pointer of each parent VLU and each child VLU are implemented within an associated metadata structure organized as a tree of metadata slabs, each tree of metadata slabs including a plurality of slabs, each slab containing a metadata table having a plurality of entries, each entry represents a contiguous range of block addresses and contains a cache pointer to a slot of a random access memory, the slot storing a data block corresponding to the block address, a block address range indicator to indicate the contiguous range of block addresses, and at least one slab pointer, each slab pointer pointing to a parent slab or a child slab.20. The data storage apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:means for receiving a READ operation to a requested VLU, the READ operation affecting one or more data blocks; means for checking the requested VLU to determine that the affected data blocks have not been copied to the requested VLU; means for recursively following the local search pointer to a subsequently created VLU or to the parent VLU and recursively checking the subsequently created VLU or the parent VLU for the affected data blocks until the requested data blocks are located; and means for processing the READ request. 21. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:means for receiving a command to create a rollback to a specified time; means for suspending the WRITE capability of the parent VLU; means for creating a new VLU, the new VLU READ/WRITE-enabled and having a search pointer and a propagation pointer; means for propagating all data blocks, from all child VLUs created subsequently to the specified time, to the new VLU, the propagation commencing with the most recently created child VLU, a most created copy of each data block copied to the new VLU; and means for setting the search pointer of the new VLU to point to the parent VLU, and setting the propagation pointer of the new VLU set to NULL.