Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for indenting changes to a logical object on a host computer by examining information relating to a physical level in a data storage system wherein the logical object is stored. In one embodiment, a method for determining changes to a logical object subsequent to a reference time is described for a logical object that belongs to an application layer of a host computer in a computer system. The computer system includes the host computer, a storage system, and at least one mapping layer that maps the logical object to a physical layer relating to physical storage locations on the storage system. The physical layer includes physical change information relating to changes made to the physical storage locations on the storage system subsequent to the reference time. The method includes steps of mapping the logical object from the application layer to the physical layer to identify which physical storage locations include data corresponding to the logical object, examining the physical change information to identify any of the physical storage locations identified in the step of mapping that include data that has changed subsequent to the reference time, and determining that changes have been made to the logical object when any physical storage locations are identified in the step of examining as including data that has changed subsequent to the reference time.

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First Claim