Re: Sparse files in the real world

[Uday Chitragar <uchitragar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We are building an Archive Appliance that generates sparse files.

Data written to filesystem is migrated to optical disks (UDO).
Based on usage policy, the actual files on filesystem are replaced with 
sparse files.
On access of the file (from filesystem clients), the filesystem filter 
(for XFS) triggers events to restore the actual file from Optical 
storage onto the filesystem.
Regards,
Uday Chitragar

John Groves wrote:

> I am working on a data management subsystem, and would appreciate any 
> insight people could share about real world applications that generate 
> sparse files.  Can anybody share information or pointers to 
> applications that generate (and benefit from) sparse files?
> Thanks,
> John Groves