Abstract: Streams of disk image files usable for deploying software in computing environments can be generated according to some examples. In one example, a system can receive, from a client device, a request for a disk image file. The system can determine, based on the request, a base image file and a customized file that are combinable for generating the disk image file. The system can store, in a header of the base image file, characteristics of the disk image file. The system can transmit, to the client device, the base image file as a stream. The system can pause transmission of the base image file based on the characteristics of the disk image file in the header of the base image file. In response to pausing transmission of the base image file, the system can transmit, to the client device, the customized file as the stream.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enables adding new host systems to existing clusters. An example method comprises receiving, by a processor, identification data associated with an existing cluster; generating a cluster entity data structure of the existing cluster using the identification data; generating a discovery image using the cluster configuration data structure, wherein the discover image comprises an executable code structured according to a file system; and causing a new host system to boot using the discovery image.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with a computing system in which one or more workloads issue storage commands for execution in a storage volume comprising multiple storage blocks. The computing system continually updates a data structure that tracks which of the storage blocks of the storage volume have changed due to the storage commands. The processor is configured, in response to a request to create a copy of the storage volume, to instruct the computing system to (i) create a copy of the data structure and reset the data structure, (ii) create the copy of the storage volume, while continuing to execute the storage commands and update the data structure, and (iii) after the copy of the storage volume is completed, merge the data structure into the copy of the data structure.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with a computing system in which one or more workloads issue storage commands for execution in a storage volume comprising multiple storage blocks. The computing system continually updates a data structure that tracks which of the storage blocks of the storage volume have changed due to the storage commands. The processor is configured, in response to a request to create a copy of the storage volume, to instruct the computing system to (i) create a copy of the data structure and reset the data structure, (ii) create the copy of the storage volume, while continuing to execute the storage commands and update the data structure, and (iii) after the copy of the storage volume is completed, merge the data structure into the copy of the data structure.