Methods for generating a unified virtual snapshot and systems thereof

Abstract

A method, computer readable medium, and system for generating a unified virtual snapshot in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes invoking with a file virtualization system a capture of a plurality of physical snapshots. Each of the physical snapshots comprises content at a given point in time in one of the plurality of data storage systems. A unified virtual snapshot is generated with the file virtualization system based on the captured plurality of the physical snapshots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for utilizing a virtual snapshot, the method comprising:
 associating a request relating to a file in one of a plurality of data storage systems to one of one or more physical snapshots of one of the plurality of data storage systems in a virtual snapshot;   invoking an execution of the request relating to the file at the one of the plurality of data storage systems based on the associating; and   providing a response based on the invoked execution of the request.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising searching a virtual snapshot listing directory to identify the virtual snapshot based on one or more factors. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the one or more factors comprise a date range for the virtual snapshot. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the associating is based on a search of virtualization metadata to associate the request to the one or one or more physical snapshots or a search in the one or more physical snapshots for a target identified in the request to associate the request to the one or one or more physical snapshots 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising translating the request for the invocation of the execution of the request at the one of the plurality of data storage systems based on the associating. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the providing the response based on the invoked execution of the request further comprises:
 receiving the response from the invoked execution of the request; and 
 translating the received response to another format suitable for a requesting system which submitted the request; and 
 providing the translated response to the requesting system. 
 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for utilizing a virtual snapshot comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:
 associating a request relating to a file in one of a plurality of data storage systems to one of one or more physical snapshots of one of the plurality of data storage systems in a virtual snapshot;   invoking an execution of the request relating to the file at the one of the plurality of data storage systems based on the associating; and   providing a response based on the invoked execution of the request.  20     
     
     
         8 . The medium as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising searching a virtual snapshot listing directory to identify the obtained virtual snapshot based on one or more factors. 
     
     
         9 . The medium as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the one or more factors comprise a date range for the virtual snapshot. 
     
     
         10 . The medium as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the associating is based on a search of virtualization metadata to associate the request to the one or one or more physical snapshots or a search in the one or more physical snapshots for a target identified in the request to associate the request to the one or one or more physical snapshots. 
     
     
         11 . The medium as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising translating the request for the invocation of the execution of the request at the one of the plurality of data storage systems based on the associating. 
     
     
         12 . The medium as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the providing the response based on the invoked execution of the request further comprises:
 receiving the response from the invoked execution of the request; and 
 translating the received response to another format suitable for a requesting system which submitted the request; and 
 providing the translated response to the requesting system. 
 
     
     
         13 . A file virtualization system, comprising:
 at least one of configurable hardware logic configured to be capable of implementing or a processor coupled to a memory and configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising:
 associating a request relating to a file in one of a plurality of data storage systems to one of one or more physical snapshots of one of the plurality of data storage systems in a virtual snapshot; 
 invoking an execution of the request relating to the file at the one of the plurality of data storage systems based on the associating; and 
 providing a response based on the invoked execution of the request. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the identification system searches a virtual snapshot listing directory stored in one or more memory systems to identify the obtained virtual snapshot based on one or more factors. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the one or more factors comprise a date range for the virtual snapshot. 
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the association system associates based on a search of virtualization metadata to associate the request to the one or one or more physical snapshots or a search in the one or more physical snapshots for a target identified in the request to associate the request to the one or one or more physical snapshots. 
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the invocation system translates the request for the invocation of the execution of the request at the one of the plurality of data storage systems based on the associating. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the invocation system receives and translates the response to another format suitable for a requesting system which submitted the request and the communication system provides the translated response to the requesting system.