Switch device, system, backup method and computer program
First Claim
1. A backup management system comprising:
- a plurality of file devices, each including a file system;
means for commanding said plurality of file devices to start the generation of snapshots, which are fixed images of said file systems at a certain point in time;
said plurality of file devices generating respective snapshots responsive to a command for starting the generation of said snapshots; and
means for setting a link across a plurality of snapshots to generate a virtual snapshot so that said plurality of snapshots generated by said file devices corresponds to a consolidated file system structure of said plurality of file systems at the time of snapshot generation;
whereby backup and/or restore may be made using said virtual snapshot.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a system which includes at least one client, a plural number of file servers, each having a file system, and a switch logically arranged between the client and the plural file servers to provide file access services which virtually render the plural file services accessible as a single file system, termed a ‘pseudo file system’, when viewed from the terminal. The switch distributes a command for start of generation of snapshots to the plural file servers, which file servers formulate respective snapshots responsive to the command for start of formation of the snapshots. The switch sets the plural snapshots, generated by the plural file servers, so as to be associated with the file system structure of the virtual file system at the time of formation of the snapshots.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A backup management system comprising:
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a plurality of file devices, each including a file system;
means for commanding said plurality of file devices to start the generation of snapshots, which are fixed images of said file systems at a certain point in time;
said plurality of file devices generating respective snapshots responsive to a command for starting the generation of said snapshots; and
means for setting a link across a plurality of snapshots to generate a virtual snapshot so that said plurality of snapshots generated by said file devices corresponds to a consolidated file system structure of said plurality of file systems at the time of snapshot generation;
whereby backup and/or restore may be made using said virtual snapshot.
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2. A file access service system comprising:
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at least one terminal;
a plurality of file devices, each including a file system; and
an intermediate device logically arranged between said terminal and said plurality of file devices, said intermediate device furnishing said terminal which a file access service which allows said terminal to access said plurality of file systems as a single file system, termed hereinafter a ‘
pseudo file system’
;
said intermediate device including means for commanding each of said plurality of file devices to start the generation of a snapshot which is a fixed image at a certain point in time of said file system of each of said plurality of file devices;
each of said plurality of file devices generating a snapshot responsive to said command from said intermediate device for starting to generate the snapshot;
said intermediate device also including means for setting a link across a plurality of said snapshots so that a plurality of said snapshots generated respectively by said plurality of file devices correspond to said pseudo file system at the time of generation of said snapshots. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for taking a backup in a file access service system comprising
at least one terminal; -
a plurality of file devices, each including a file system; and
an intermediate device logically arranged between said terminal and said file devices;
said intermediate device providing file access services which virtually render said plural file services accessible as a single file system, termed a ‘
pseudo file system’
, when viewed from said terminal;
said method comprising the steps ofsaid intermediate device distributing a command for starting to generate a snapshot which is a fixed image of a file system at a certain point in time, to a plurality of said file devices;
said plural file devices receiving a command for starting to take snapshots from said intermediate device to formulate respective snapshots; and
said intermediate device setting a link across a plurality of said snapshots so that said snapshots generated by said file devices are in correspondence with said pseudo-file system at the time of generation of said snapshots. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A switch device logically arranged between at least one client and a plurality of file servers, each provided with a file system, for providing file access services which virtually render said plural file systems accessible as a single file system, termed a ‘
- pseudo file system’
, when viewed from said client;
said switch device comprising;
a unit that distributes a command for starting to generate a snapshot, which is a fixed image of a file system at a certain point in time, to a plurality of said file servers; and
a unit that sets a link across a plurality of said snapshots so that said snapshots generated by said file servers on receipt of a command for starting to generate the snapshots so that said snapshots corresponds with said pseudo-file system at the time of generation of said snapshots. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
- pseudo file system’
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19. A program for a computer forming a switch device logically arranged between at least one client and a plurality of file servers, each provided with a file system, for supplying said client with a file access service which allows said client to access said plural file systems as a single file system, termed a ‘
- pseudo file system’
, said program causing said computer to execute the processing ofdistributing a command for starting to generate a snapshot which is a fixed image of a file system at a certain point in time, to a plurality of said file servers; and
setting a link across a plurality of said snapshots so that said snapshots generated by said file servers on receipt of a command for staring to generate the snapshots, so that said snapshots are in correspondence with said pseudo-file system at the time of generation of said snapshots. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- pseudo file system’
Specification