System and method for multi-tiered meta-data caching and distribution in a clustered computer environment
First Claim
1. A method for distributing meta-data relating to a data container in a striped volume set, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a meta-data volume storing a canonical copy of the meta-data relating to the data container; and
designating one of one or more data volumes as a container attribute volume for the data container, the container attribute volume storing a cached copy of the meta-data relating to the data container and wherein the container attribute volume serves as a first tier caching and distribution point within the striped volume set.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method caches and distributes meta-data for one or more data containers stored on a plurality of volumes configured as a striped volume set (SVS) and served by a plurality of nodes interconnected as a cluster. The SVS comprises one meta-data volume (MDV) configured to store a canonical copy of certain meta-data, including access control lists and directories, associated with all data containers stored on the SVS, and one or more data volumes (DV) configured to store, at least, data content of those containers. In addition, for each data container stored on the SVS, one volume is designated a container attribute volume (CAV) and, as such, is configured to store (“cache”) a canonical copy of certain, rapidly-changing attribute meta-data, including time stamps and container length, associated with that container.
127 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for distributing meta-data relating to a data container in a striped volume set, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a meta-data volume storing a canonical copy of the meta-data relating to the data container; and
designating one of one or more data volumes as a container attribute volume for the data container, the container attribute volume storing a cached copy of the meta-data relating to the data container and wherein the container attribute volume serves as a first tier caching and distribution point within the striped volume set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for distributing meta-data relating to a data container in a striped set, the system comprising:
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a meta-data volume storing a canonical copy of the meta-data;
one or more data volumes organized to store stripes of data of the data container, one of the one or more data volumes being designated as a container attribute volume for the data container; and
wherein the container attribute volume stores a cached copy of the meta-data and includes a meta-data invalidation flag identifying a status of the cached copy of the meta-data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for distributing meta-data relating to a data container in a striped volume set, the system comprising:
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a plurality of computers, each of the plurality of computers comprising a volume striping module, each volume striping module adapted to service one or more of a plurality of volumes logically organized into the volume striping set;
wherein one of the plurality of volumes is designated as a meta-data volume storing a canonical copy of meta-data relating to the data container; and
wherein one of the plurality of volumes is designated as a container attribute volume for the data container, the container attribute volume storing a cached copy of the meta-data relating to the data container and having a meta-data invalidation flag identifying a status of the cached copy of the meta-data relating to the data container. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer readable medium for distributing meta-data relating to a data container in a striped volume set having a meta-data volume storing a canonical copy of the meta-data relating to the data container and wherein one of one or more data volumes is designated as a container attribute volume for the data container and storing a cached copy of the meta-data relating to the data container, the computer readable medium including program instructions for performing the steps of:
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receiving a request to modify/create the meta-data relating to the data container by a volume striping module serving the meta-data volume;
invalidating the cached copy of the meta-data relating to the data container; and
processing the received request to modify/create the canonical copy of the meta-data relating to the data container.
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Specification