Gateway device for remote file server services
First Claim
1. A method of storing user data of a plurality of network computer entities, said method characterized by comprising the steps of:
- writing said user data to a local data storage area (1001) in a said computer entity;
creating an emulation data which emulates a file system type in use in said network;
incorporating said user data and said file system type data in a data file for transmission; and
transmitting said transmission file over a communications link for remote data storage.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bulk data repository 201 for remote storage of bulk data from a plurality of computer networks 200-207 is accessed over a plurality of communications links, e.g., the internet 202. Each computer network is provided with a gateway appliance 200, which acts as a virtual filing system for a plurality of computer entities on a computer network. Gateway appliance emulates a file system, for example Windows NT™ or Novell NetWare™ by packaging data files to be stored in files for transmission over the communications linked to the data repository, each data file having appended a meta data header, which designates an address of the gateway appliance and a type of file system which the gateway appliance is emulating. The data repository, receives the data file with the meta data header, and stores the met data header locally in a local database prior to filing the data file. In a block of data reserved for the gateway appliance. The data repository can search data files by searching the meta data header to locate any of the data files of a gateway appliance. The data repository has automatic management tools for monitoring the amount of data storage space allocated to any gateway appliance, and for expanding the allocated data storage space if required.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of storing user data of a plurality of network computer entities, said method characterized by comprising the steps of:
-
writing said user data to a local data storage area (1001) in a said computer entity;
creating an emulation data which emulates a file system type in use in said network;
incorporating said user data and said file system type data in a data file for transmission; and
transmitting said transmission file over a communications link for remote data storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of preparing data originating from a plurality of networked computer entities into a format suitable for remote storage, said method characterized by comprising the steps of:
-
assembling a file of user data to be remotely stored;
assembling a header data (1102), said header data comprising;
an address data (401) identifying an address of a device from which said data is sent;
a file system type data (400) identifying a file system type which is used by the device from which the data is sent;
an access control data (404) describing at least one category of user who is authorised to access said user data files;
a timing data (405) identifying a time associated with said user data file; and
appending said header data (1103) to said user data file to create a transmission file comprising sad user data file and said header data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
14. A gateway appliance for sending data to and receiving data from a remote data storage location accessible over a communications link, said gateway appliance characterized by comprising:
-
a data processor (1002);
a first communications port (1004) for communicating with a plurality of computers in a computer network;
a second communications (1005) port for communicating with a remote data storage facility;
a non-volatile data storage device (1001) for storing locally, data to be communicated via said second port;
means (1001) for emulating a file system corresponding to a file system of a network of computer entities;
means for converting data between a file system dependent format and a file system independent format; and
means for converting said data between a compressed format and an uncompressed format.
-
-
17. A bulk data storage facility comprising:
-
a plurality of data storage devices (500, 601);
a plurality of file servers (601, 602) configured for storing data in said plurality of data storage devices;
a plurality of gateway devices (502, 603) providing external connectivity to said plurality of file servers and adapted to receive packets of incoming data;
said bulk data storage facility characterized by comprising;
means (604) to allocate said plurality of incoming data packets to data storage space in said plurality of data storage devices; and
database means (1301) for recording a data location of each said plurality of data packets in said plurality of data storage devices.
-
-
21. A method of providing data storage to a plurality of customers at a bulk data storage repository, said method characterized by comprising the steps of:
-
receiving packages of data from each of said plurality of customers;
allocating (800) to each said customer at least one block of data storage space;
allocating to each said received package a file location in said data storage space;
allocating to each said package a file name;
storing (802, 1407) said file name in a database, said database identifying said file location in said data repository associated with said data packet. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification