US Patent 9348827 File-based snapshots for block-based backups

File-based snapshots for block-based backups are described. A system records an identifier corresponding to a modified block in a file system into a modified block map. The system creates a modified file block map based on a modified file. The system identifies a modified file block corresponding to the modified file based on an intersection of the modified block map and the modified file block map. The system creates a mounted backup image by mounting a previously created block-based backup of the file system onto a proxy host. The system enables a forward snapshot of the mounted backup image. The system reads the modified file block from the file system using a file system read interface. The system creates a forward snapshot file for the modified file by writing the modified file block to the mounted backup image using a file system write interface.