MULTI-LEVEL PATCHING OPERATION

Techniques for performing a multi-level patching operation are described. According to one such technique, before a particular patch is applied, the data containers that are targeted by the particular patch are identified. A determination is made as to whether any of these target data containers already has been targeted by any previously applied patch. A determination also is made as to whether any other data container that contains (immediately or otherwise) any of the target data containers already has been targeted by any previously applied patch. If any target data container or any other data container that contains a target data container already has been targeted by a previously applied patch, then the particular patch is not applied to the target data containers.