Remote access program, remote access request-processing program, and client computer

• US 20030078944A1
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kawase, Yoshitake, Yamauchi, Katsutoshi, Hosokawa, Isao
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A client computer is capable of designating one of a plurality access paths via respective servers on a file-by-file basis. The client computer defines a plurality of access paths to the storage device by way of the respective server computers (step S1). Next, when an access request defining a file within the storage device is received, the client computer determines a relay server computer which should provide an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis (step S2). Then, the client computer accesses the file within the storage device by the access path via the designated relay server computer.

Claims

1. A remote access program for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

wherein the remote access program causes a computer to execute a process for:

defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer which provides an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis; and

accessing the file within the storage device by the determined access path via the determined relay server computer.

2. The remote access program according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule is a calculating equation using an identification number set to the file in advance and a number of the server computers as variables.

3. The remote access program according to claim 1, wherein when the relay server computer is halted, an alternate server computer for carrying out processing of the halted relay server computer for remote access in place thereof is determined from the server computers, and

wherein the file within the storage device designated by the access request is accessed by the access path via the determined alternate server computer.

4. The remote access program according to claim 3, wherein when a notification that the alternate server computer carries out the processing for the remote access to a predetermined file in the storage device in place of the halted relay server computer is received, the access to the predetermined file indicated by the notification which occurs thereafter is carried out via the alternate server computer.

5. A remote access request-processing program for providing a function of accessing a storage device,

wherein the remote access request-processing program causes a computer to execute a process for:

making a list of client computers which desire to be provided with the function of accessing the storage device;

notifying, when information of an alternate file for which the computer provides the function of accessing the storage device in place of another server computer, each of the client computers registered in the list, that the computer carries out processing for providing the function of accessing the alternate file; and

providing the function of accessing files designated in advance according to a predetermined rule and the alternate file, out of files within the storage device, to the client computers registered in the list.

6. A client computer for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

the client computer comprising:

access path-defining means for defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

access path-determining means for determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer which provides an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths defined by said access path-defining means by said on a file-by-file basis; and

remote access means for accessing the file within the storage device by the access path determined by said access path-determining means via the determined relay server computer.

7. A server computer for providing a function of accessing a storage device,

the server computer comprising:

list-making means for making a list of client computers which desire to be provided with the function of accessing the storage device;

alternate file-notifying means for notifying, when information of an alternate file for which the server computer provides the function of accessing the storage device in place of another server computer, each of the client computers registered in the list, that the computer carries out processing for providing the function for accessing the alternate file; and

remote access-providing means for providing the function for accessing files designated in advance according to a predetermined rule and the alternate file, out of files within the storage device, for the client computers registered in the list.

8. A remote access method for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

the method comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer which provides an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis; and

accessing the file within the storage device by the determined access path via the determined relay server computer.

9. A remote access request-processing method for providing a function of accessing a storage device,

the method comprising the steps of:

making a list of client computers which desire to be provided with the function of accessing the storage device;

notifying, when information of an alternate file for which the computer provides the function of accessing the storage device in place of another server computer, each of the client computers registered in the list, that the computer carries out processing for providing the function of accessing the alternate file; and

providing the function of accessing files designated in advance according to a predetermined rule and the alternate file, out of files within the storage device, to the client computers registered in the list.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a remote access program for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

wherein the remote access program causes a computer to execute a process for:

defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer which provides an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis; and

accessing the file within the storage device by the determined access path via the determined relay server computer.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a remote access request-processing program for providing a function of accessing a storage device,

wherein the remote access request-processing program causes a computer to execute a process for:

making a list of client computers which desire to be provided with the function of accessing the storage device;

notifying, when information of an alternate file for which the computer provides the function of accessing the storage device in place of another server computer, each of the client computers registered in the list, that the computer carries out processing for providing the function of accessing the alternate file; and

providing the function of accessing files designated in advance according to a predetermined rule and the alternate file, out of files within the storage device, to the client computers registered in the list.