Abstract: A processor of a computing device is described that intercepts a write command output from a file system, the write command specifying new data to be written to a particular group of blocks of a storage device. The processor determines, based on a record of free blocks of the storage device, that the particular group of blocks of the storage device include one or more free blocks that are currently storing snapshot data as old data. Responsive to determining that the particular group of blocks of the storage device include one or more free blocks that are currently storing snapshot data as old data, the processor moves the old data to other free blocks of the storage device, and after moving the old data to the other free blocks, the processor forwards the write command to the storage device to write the new data to the particular group of blocks.

Abstract: Method and computer program product for reducing storage space requirements in a computer file system comprising linkable files are provided. The method allows creating a list of each file eligible for storage reduction. The listed files are processed to determine files comprising duplicative content. At least one of the following is performed: a) determining a presence of an existent link pointing to files with duplicative content, or b) in the absence of an existent link, creating a link for coupling files with duplicative content. One may then eliminate storage space for any redundant duplicative content, thereby reducing storage size requirements for the file system.