Claims
- 1. In a system having application program interface, a method of identifying freeze methods appropriate for a storage object, the method comprising:
transmitting data to the application programming interface identifying the storage object; and receiving, from the application programming interface, a freeze list with one or more freeze methods appropriate for freezing the storage object.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each freeze method includes a measure of quiesce strength.
- 3. A computer-readable medium having program code which, when executed on a computer, implements the method of claim 1.
- 4. In a system having application program interface, a method of freezing a storage object, comprising:
transmitting data to the application programming interface identifying the storage object; receiving a freeze list with one or more freeze methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object from the application programming interface; selecting one of the freeze methods; and issuing a command to the application programming interface to execute the freeze method.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein each freeze method includes a measure of quiesce strength and wherein selecting is a function of quiesce strength.
- 6. A computer-readable medium having program code which, when executed on a computer, implements the method of claim 4.
- 7. An application program interface that operates with an application to generate frozen images of a storage object, the interface comprising:
means for receiving data identifying a storage object; means for returning a freeze list with one or more freeze methods appropriate for freezing the storage object; means for receiving a selected freeze method associated with the storage object; and means for returning a frozen image as a function of the selected freeze method.
- 8. The application program interface of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving data identifying a storage object includes a call which identifies the storage object and provides a list of preferences.
- 9. An application program interface that operates with an application to generate frozen images of a storage object, the interface comprising:
means for receiving data identifying a storage object; and means for returning a frozen image of the storage object, wherein the means for returning a frozen image includes means for transmitting a freeze list having and for transmitting a frozen image representative of the storage object.
- 10. The application program interface of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving data identifying a storage object includes a call which identifies the storage object and provides a list of preferences.
- 11. An application program interface for controlling formation of a frozen image of a storage object, the interface comprising:
a storage object identifier, wherein the storage object identifier identifies the storage object; a freeze list data structure, wherein the freeze list data structure stores data representing one or more freeze methods appropriate for freezing the storage object; a freeze method identifier, wherein the freeze method identifier identifies a selected freeze method from the one or more freeze methods; and a data structure for returning a frozen image corresponding to the selected freeze method.
- 12. The application program interface of claim 11, wherein the storage object identifier is transferred within a call to the application program interface.
- 13. An application program interface for controlling quiescing of a storage object, the interface comprising:
a storage object identifier, wherein the storage object identifier identifies the storage object; a quiesce data structure, wherein the quiesce data structure stores data representing one or more quiesce methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object; and a quiesce method identifier, wherein the quiesce method identifier identifies a selected quiesce method from the one or more quiesce methods.
- 14. The application program interface of claim 13, wherein the application program interface transmits a signal on completion of storage object quiesce.
- 15. The application program interface of claim 13, wherein the storage object identifier is transferred within a call to the application program interface.
- 16. An application program interface for controlling quiescing of a storage object, the interface comprising:
means for receiving data identifying a storage object; means for transmitting a quiesce list having one or more quiesce methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object; and means for returning an indication that the storage object is quiesced.
- 17. The application program interface of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving data identifying a storage object includes a call which identifies the storage object and provides a list of preferences.
- 18. In a system having application program interface, a method of identifying quiesce methods appropriate for a storage object, the method comprising:
transmitting data to the application programming interface identifying the storage object; and receiving a quiesce list with one or more quiesce methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object from the application programming interface.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein each quiesce method includes a measure of quiesce strength.
- 20. A computer-readable medium having program code which, when executed on a computer, implements the method of claim 18.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is related to the following co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent applications: “Methods, Functional Data, and Systems to Represent a Storage Environment,” attorney docket no. 1557.001US1, Ser. No. 09/997,602 filed Nov. 29, 2001; “Methods and Systems to Backup Data,” attorney docket no. 1557.002US1, Ser. No. ______, filed herewith; “Methods, Systems, and Apparatus to Interface with Storage Objects,” attorney docket no. 1557.003US1, Ser. No. 09/997,612 filed Nov. 29, 2001; “Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Creating Stable Disk Images” attorney docket no. 1557.004US1, Ser. No. ______, filed herewith; “Methods and Systems to Interface Storage Objects,” attorney docket no. 1557.005US1, Ser. No. 09/997,350, filed Nov. 29, 2001; and “System and Method for Characterizing Logical Storage Devices” attorney docket no. 1557.013US1, Ser. No. ______, filed herewith, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.