File sharing device and inter-file sharing device data migration method

• US 20060129654A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sato, Eiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/119 Details of migration of file systems migration mechanisms in storage systems G06F3/0647
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Data migration from an existing NAS to a new NAS and processing of access from a client are executed in parallel. A migration destination NAS inherits the host name and IP address of a migration source NAS. The network environment parameters of the migration source NAS are changed to different values. The migration destination NAS causes data to migrate from a migration source storage region, in which a shared file system of the migration source NAS is mounted, to a migration destination storage region. In a case where there is an access request from the client during data migration, the migration destination NAS selects one of the storage region in correspondence to the migration status of the requested data and provides that data. Data of a “not copied” status is provided from the migration source storage region. Data of a “copied” status is provided from the migration destination storage region.

Claims

1. A virtual file system, comprising:

a first file server;

a second file server; and

a network through which at least the first file server is connected to a client;

wherein the first file server includes a control unit, a first shared file system and a virtual shared file system, and the control unit is operatively connected to receive access to a file of the virtual shared file system and to relay the file access of the virtual shared file system to a file in a second shared file system of the second file access server.

2. A virtual file system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further operatively connected to receive access to a file of the first shared file system of the first file server.

3. A virtual file system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a table having data on the virtual shared file system, the first shared file system and the second shared file system.

4. A virtual file system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit relays the file of the virtual shared file system in a read-write mode.

5. A virtual file system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit relays the file of the virtual shared file system in a read-only mode.

6. A virtual file system according to claim 1, wherein the virtual shared file system is a plurality of virtual shared file systems.

7. A virtual file system according to claim 6, wherein the second shared file system is a plurality of shared file systems corresponding to the plurality of virtual shared file systems.

8. A virtual file system according to claim 1, wherein the client is operatively connected to use a first mountpoint to access the virtual shared file system, and the first server is operatively connected to use a second mountpoint relating to the first mountpoint to access the second shared file system.

9. A virtual file system according to claim 8, wherein the first mountpoint is configured with a name different from a name of the second mountpoint.

10. A virtual file system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit includes data on the relationship between the virtual shared file system and the second mountpoint.

11. A virtual file system according to claim 8, wherein the second mountpoint is determined by a user account.

12. A method for operating a virtual file system that includes a first file server, a second file server and a network through which at least the first file server is connected to a client, wherein the first file server includes a control unit, a first shared file system and a virtual shared file system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the control unit access to a file of the virtual shared file system; and

relaying the file access of the virtual shared file system to a file in a second shared file system of the second file server.

13. A virtual file system according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

receiving at the control unit access to a file of the first shared file system of the first file server.

14. A virtual file system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit includes a table having data on the virtual shared file system, the first shared file system and the second shared file system.

15. A virtual file system according to claim 12, wherein the step of relaying the file of the virtual shared file system to a file in a second shared file system of the second file server includes placing the control unit in a read-write mode.

16. A virtual file system according to claim 12, wherein the step of relaying the file of the virtual shared file system to a file in a second shared file system of the second file server includes placing the control unit in a read-only mode.

17. A virtual file system according to claim 12, wherein the virtual shared file system is a plurality of virtual shared file systems.

18. A virtual file system according to claim 17, wherein the second shared file system is a plurality of shared file systems corresponding to the plurality of virtual shared file systems.

19. A virtual file system according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

using a first mountpoint for accessing the virtual shared file system by the client; and

using a second mountpoint for accessing the second shared file system by the first server, wherein the second mountpoint is related to the first mountpoint.

20. A virtual file system according to claim 19, wherein the first mountpoint is configured with a name different from a name of the second mountpoint.

21. A virtual file system according to claim 19, wherein the control unit has data on the relationship between the virtual shared file system and the second mountpoint.

22. A virtual file system according to claim 19, wherein the second mountpoint is determined by a user account.