Abstract: A cloning manager reads contents of a source file system as a stream of objects. The cloning manager identifies a destination file system into which to merge the source file system stream during the cloning operation. The cloning manager proceeds to merge objects of the source file system stream into the destination file system according to a specific merging strategy, replacing some or all corresponding objects in the destination file system with their counterpart objects from the source file system stream, or preserving corresponding objects in the destination by discarding their counterpart objects from the source, as desired.

Abstract: A cloning manager preserves in-place file system objects during a clone operation. The cloning manager determines boundaries on a target storage medium to contain a resultant file system to be created by the clone operation, and identifies at least one protected area within the boundaries to be overwritten by the clone operation. The cloning manager also identifies at least one in-place file system object at least partially within the boundaries not to be overwritten during the clone operation. The cloning manager ensures that each in-place file system object is not located in a protected area, shifting the objects as necessary. The cloning manager performs the clone operation, creating the resultant file system only in locations within the boundaries in which no in-place file system object is located.