Method and system for flexibly providing shared access to non-data pool file systems

• US 20060173929A1
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Christopher S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/183 Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS network file access protocols H04L67/1097

Abstract

Herein described is a method and system for providing shared access to data residing within non-data pool related file systems. Aspects of the invention incorporate the use of one or more share access mechanisms by which access to the data occurs. The one or more share access mechanisms may be enabled or disabled by way of one or more selections that are made using a user interface. In a representative embodiment, the user interface may comprise a web browser. The method may involve assigning one or more values to one or more variables such that one or more name-value pairs are generated. The one or more name-value pairs are stored in a non-volatile memory. Execution of a software program may enable the one or more share access mechanisms when one or more assigned values are equal to one or more enabling values.

Claims

1. A method of identifying one or more shared directories in a non-data pool related file system comprising:

assigning one or more name-value pairs; and

storing said one or more name-value pairs into a memory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more name-value pairs is used to identify a type of disk interface associated with said one or more shared directories.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more name-value pairs is used to identify a make or model of a data storage drive associated with said one or more shared directories.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more name-value pairs is used to identify a serial number of a data storage drive associated with said one or more shared directories.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more name-value pairs is used to identify a partition number associated with said one or more shared directories.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more name-value pairs is used to identify a volume key field associated with said one or more shared directories.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more name-value pairs is used to identify a volume label associated with said one or more shared directories.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said volume label is used for creating a share name.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said non-data pool related file system comprises a FAT file system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said non-data pool related file system comprises a NTFS file system.

11. A method of providing shared access to data stored in a non-data pool related file system comprising:

making one or more selections using a user interface;

applying said one or more selections;

generating one or more name-value pairs corresponding to said one or more selections;

storing said one or more name-value pairs into a memory; and

executing a software that selectively operates one or more share access mechanisms based on said one or more selections.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said one or more share access mechanisms comprises NFS.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said one or more share access mechanisms comprises CIFS.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said one or more share access mechanisms comprises FTP.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said one or more share access mechanisms comprises HTTP.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said user interface comprises a web browser.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said web browser comprises Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said memory comprises an NVRAM.

19. A system of providing shared access to data stored in a non-data pool related file system comprising:

a memory;

a software resident in said memory; and

a processor used for executing said software, said executing providing one or more mechanisms by which one or more shares on said non-data pool related file system may be accessed.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said memory comprises a flash memory.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said one or more mechanisms comprises NFS.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said one or more mechanisms comprises CIFS.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said one or more mechanisms comprises FTP.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said one or more mechanisms comprises HTTP.