Method and system for performing deferred file removal in a file system

摘要

A system and method for removing a file from a system is disclosed. The system includes a storage device and a virtual storage. The file has associated metadata that indicates a location of the file on the storage device. A first copy of the associated metadata resides on the virtual storage. A second copy of the associated metadata resides on the storage device. The system and method include marking the file as removed and updating the second copy of the associated metadata substantially immediately if the system is to run out of space on the storage device and a next scheduled update of the second copy of the associated metadata has not occurred. The system and method further include indicating that the location is available for storing data substantially immediately if the system is to run out of space on the storage device and the next scheduled update has not occurred. In one aspect, the system and method also include updating the second copy of the associated metadata during the next scheduled update if the system is not to run out of space before the next scheduled update. In this aspect, the system and method also include indicating that the location is available for storing data during the next scheduled update if the system is not to run out of space before the next scheduled update.