File-based hybrid file storage scheme supporting multiple file switches
First Claim
1. A method of managing user files in an aggregated file system, comprising:
- receiving from a client a file operating request with respect to a user file, the request including a name of the user file and an operating instruction;
identifying a first set of file segments of the user file stored in the aggregated file system according to a first scheme;
identifying a second set of file segments of the user file stored in the aggregated file system according to a second scheme; and
applying the operating instruction to the first and second sets of file segments, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an aggregated file system, a file may begin with a set of stripe fragments all in the RAID-5 scheme in order to take advantage of the RAID-5 scheme'"'"'s storage efficiency. After that, when one of the fragments is accessed by a file switch, it will be duplicated into the data mirroring scheme. The file'"'"'s corresponding metadata server maintains a data structure, e.g., a bitmap, indicating which fragments have been duplicated into the data mirroring scheme. In other words, the file, at this moment, exists in a hybrid scheme. A file consolidator running on the metadata server is triggered at a predefined time to copy the fragments from the data mirroring scheme back to the RAID-5 scheme, This file consolidator also updates the bitmap to reflect the changes to the file'"'"'s scheme change. This hybrid scheme is expected to increase the I/O capacity of the conventional RAID-5 scheme and the storage usage of the conventional mirroring scheme.
225 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of managing user files in an aggregated file system, comprising:
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receiving from a client a file operating request with respect to a user file, the request including a name of the user file and an operating instruction;
identifying a first set of file segments of the user file stored in the aggregated file system according to a first scheme;
identifying a second set of file segments of the user file stored in the aggregated file system according to a second scheme; and
applying the operating instruction to the first and second sets of file segments, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An aggregated file system, comprising:
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a plurality of file servers;
a file switch, including;
a processor for executing instructions for storing, maintaining and providing access to a set of user files, the instructions including;
instructions for receiving from a client a file operating request with respect to a user file, the request including a name of the user file and an operating instruction;
instructions for identifying a first set of file segments of the user file stored in the aggregated file system according to a first scheme;
instructions for identifying a second set of file segments of the user file stored in the aggregated file system according to a second scheme; and
instructions for applying the operating instruction to the first and second sets of file segments, respectively;
wherein the plurality of file servers include a first array of file servers hosting the first set of file segments and a second array of file servers hosting the second set of file segments. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A file switch for use in a computer network having a plurality of file servers, a metadata server and a plurality of client computers, the file switch comprising:
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at least one processing unit for executing computer programs;
at least one interface for exchanging information with the file servers, metadata server and client computers, the information exchanged including information concerning a specified user file;
a set of user files that have been updated by the file switch during a predefined time period;
instructions for receiving a file operating request with respect to a user file, the request including a name of the user file and an operating instruction;
file read instructions for extracting a plurality of file segments of a user file from the file servers and returning them to a requesting client;
file write instructions for updating a plurality of file segments of a user file in the file servers in accordance with a new version of the user file; and
file consolidate instructions for removing one or more user files from the set of updated user files in accordance with a predefined condition. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A hybrid file storage scheme for managing user files in an aggregated file system, comprising:
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splitting a user file into first and second sets of file segments;
storing the first set of file segments in a first array of file servers according to a first scheme; and
storing the second set of file segments in a second array of file servers according to a second scheme. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification