Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are described for instant provisioning (e.g., cloning, copying, replicating, migrating, backing up, restoring, etc.) of virtual machines, virtual machine files, or other types of files (e.g., database files). In some implementations, a cloned virtual machine file can present an illusion to multiple applications accessing the cloned file that the cloned file contains all the appropriate data (e.g., a file system volume), even while the clone file is still being filled with relevant data. In some embodiments, the systems and methods use a file system filter driver to intercept and redirect certain input/output (I/O) requests to the cloned file. The file system filter driver may use a data structure (e.g., a bitmap) to determine which logical units of the clone file have already been filled with data. In some embodiments, the systems and methods use the operating system to handle cached I/O requests, which may improve efficiency.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are described for instant provisioning (e.g., cloning, copying, replicating, migrating, backing up, restoring, etc.) of virtual machines, virtual machine files, or other types of files (e.g., database files). In some implementations, a cloned virtual machine file can present an illusion to multiple applications accessing the cloned file that the cloned file contains all the appropriate data (e.g., a file system volume), even while the clone file is still being filled with relevant data. In some embodiments, the systems and methods use a file system filter driver to intercept and redirect certain input/output (I/O) requests to the cloned file. The file system filter driver may use a data structure (e.g., a bitmap) to determine which logical units of the clone file have already been filled with data. In some embodiments, the systems and methods use the operating system to handle cached I/O requests, which may improve efficiency.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are described for instant provisioning (e.g., cloning, copying, replicating, migrating, backing up, restoring, etc.) of virtual machines, virtual machine files, or other types of files (e.g., database files). In some implementations, a cloned virtual machine file can present an illusion to multiple applications accessing the cloned file that the cloned file contains all the appropriate data (e.g., a file system volume), even while the clone file is still being filled with relevant data. In some embodiments, the systems and methods use a file system filter driver to intercept and redirect certain input/output (I/O) requests to the cloned file. The file system filter driver may use a data structure (e.g., a bitmap) to determine which logical units of the clone file have already been filled with data. In some embodiments, the systems and methods use the operating system to handle cached I/O requests, which may improve efficiency.