EXTENSIVE RECOVERY POINT MANAGEMENT USING TAGS

A technique enables coordination of unrelated software components to facilitate extensive recovery point management on a snapshot or recovery point through the use of a flexible tag structure. The tag is organized and arranged as a {key=value,[value] . . . } structure wherein the key denotes an operation that requires coordination between the unrelated software components and the value(s) denote multi-cardinality that provide parameters for coordination of the operation. The multi-cardinality aspect of the flexible tag structure provides a set of values associated with the key of the tag that enables a software component and/or protocol to insert its value(s) into the tag structure for its interpretation. The technique thus provides an extensible model where multiple components/protocols use the tag to coordinate operations on the RP by conveying certain meaning/interpretations of the tag and its values.