Hybrid client-server protocol for fast writes to a file
First Claim
1. A method of operating a network file server, the network file server having storage for storing a file system, and a computer programmed for access to the file system in accordance with a file access protocol and programmed for reading from and writing to logical blocks of the file system in accordance with a storage access protocol, the method comprising:
- the computer receiving a file access request from a network client for access to a file in the file system in accordance with the network file access protocol, and the computer responding to the file access request by returning to the client metadata of the file including metadata specifying storage addresses of logical blocks of the file, and then the computer receiving a storage access request from the client requesting read-write access to specified logical blocks of the file in accordance with the storage access protocol, and the computer responding to the storage access request by performing read-write access to the file system in the storage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network file server has storage for storing a file system, and a computer programmed for access to the file system in accordance with a file access protocol and in accordance with a storage access protocol. The computer receives a file access request from a network client for access to a file in the file system in accordance with the network file access protocol. The computer decides whether it should finish the file access using the file access protocol or the client should finish the file access using the storage access protocol. Upon deciding that the client should finish the file access using the storage access protocol, the computer returns to the client metadata of the file including metadata specifying addresses of logical blocks of storage allocated to the file, and then the computer responds to storage access requests from the client by performing read-write access to the file.
59 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of operating a network file server, the network file server having storage for storing a file system, and a computer programmed for access to the file system in accordance with a file access protocol and programmed for reading from and writing to logical blocks of the file system in accordance with a storage access protocol, the method comprising:
the computer receiving a file access request from a network client for access to a file in the file system in accordance with the network file access protocol, and the computer responding to the file access request by returning to the client metadata of the file including metadata specifying storage addresses of logical blocks of the file, and then the computer receiving a storage access request from the client requesting read-write access to specified logical blocks of the file in accordance with the storage access protocol, and the computer responding to the storage access request by performing read-write access to the file system in the storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network file server comprising storage for storing a file system, and a computer coupled to the storage and programmed for access to the file system in accordance with a file access protocol and programmed for reading from and writing to logical blocks of the file system in accordance with a storage access protocol;
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wherein the computer is programmed for receiving a file access request from a network client for access to a file in the file system in accordance with a network file access protocol, and for responding to the file access request by returning to the client metadata of the file including metadata specifying storage addresses of logical blocks of the file; and
wherein the computer is programmed for receiving a storage access request from the client requesting read-write access to specified logical blocks of the file in accordance with the storage access protocol, and for responding to the storage access request by performing read-write access to the file system in the storage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification