Dynamic ephemeral point-in-time snapshots for consistent reads to hdfs clients

Abstract

Implementations are provided herein for dynamic ephemeral point-in-time snapshots being taken upon read requests from clients associated with object protocols and/or other protocols that depend on a consistent read. In response to receiving a read request from a protocol that depends on a consistent read, a point-in-time snapshot can be taken on the read target that maintains the durability of the point-in-time snapshot, in memory, until the client no longer requires access to the file. It can be appreciated that prior to taking the snapshot, in contemporaneously with taking the snapshot, or after the snapshot is taken, a Network File System ('NFS') client, a Sever Message Block ('SMB') client, or other clients of network protocols that allow for modifications and overwrites of file data, can open and modify the file that is the basis of the point-in-time snapshot, without repercussion to the object protocol that is using the point-in-time snapshot version of the file for a consistent read view. After the point-in-time snapshot has been used for the consistent read, the snapshot can in some implementations be discarded or in other implementations be maintained for a second purpose.