Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for accessing local and remote files

• US 20050177571A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Aland B.
• Application Number:
  US10/775,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for accessing remote files are disclosed. In one embodiment, a driver is used to filter read requests initiated by a client computer. If a file that is the subject of a read request is referenced by a local file system of the client computer, the driver routes the read request to the local file system. If a file that is the subject of a read request is not referenced by the local file system, the driver routes the read request to a remote file system. All requests to write files of the remote file system are routed to the local file system, thereby causing a file that is the subject of such a request to be written to the local file system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

using a driver to filter read requests initiated by a client computer, wherein if a file that is the subject of a read request is referenced by a local file system of the client computer, the driver routes the read request to the local file system, and if a file that is the subject of a read request is not referenced by the local file system, the driver routes the read request to a remote file system;

routing to the local file system all requests to write files of the remote file system, thereby causing a file that is the subject of such a request to be written to the local file system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said files that are the subject of said read and write requests comprise operating system files.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if a read request is routed to the remote file system, and if the file to be read is of a predetermined type, then automatically causing the file to be written from the remote file system to the local file system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said predetermined type of files comprises configuration files.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote file system comprises a UNIX file system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, presenting a user of the client computer a uniform view of the files of the local and remote file systems.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, filtering said write requests via said driver.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving a client computer'"'"'s request to read a file;

by means of a driver of the client computer, routing the read request to a remote file system; and

upon receiving the client computer'"'"'s request to write to the file, writing the file to a local file system of the client computer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, prior to routing the read request to the remote file system, determining the file to be read is not referenced by the local file system.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, after writing the file to the local file system, routing all further requests to read the file to the local file system.

11. One or more computer-readable mediums having stored thereon sequences of instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the actions:

use a driver to filter read requests initiated by a client computer, wherein if a file that is the subject of a read request is referenced by a local file system of the client computer, the driver routes the read request to the local file system, and if a file that is the subject of a read request is not referenced by the local file system, the driver routes the read request to a remote file system;

route to the local file system all requests to write files of the remote file system, thereby causing a file that is the subject of such a request to be written to the local file system.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein said read requests filtered by said driver comprise requests to read operating system files.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein said read requests filtered by said driver comprise requests to read configuration files.

14. The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the actions:

if the file does not exist on the local file system and the file comprises a predetermined type, writing the file to the local file system.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein said predetermined type of files comprises operating system files.

16. The medium of claim 14, wherein said predetermined type of files comprises configuration files.

17. The medium of claim 11, wherein the remote file system comprises a UNIX distributed file system.

18. The medium of claim 11, wherein the remote file system comprises a UNIX network file system.

19. The medium of claim 11, wherein said driver also filters said write requests.

20. A system, comprising:

a plurality of client computers, each of which maintains a local file system for accessing local files;

a remote machine providing access to remote files; and

on each client computer, a driver to i) filter read requests initiated by the client computer, ii) route a read request to the local file system of the client computer when a file that is the subject of the read request is maintained in the local files of the client computer, and otherwise route the read request to a remote file system for accessing the remote files, and iii) route to the local file system of the client computer, all requests to write the remote files.