Pre-existing content replication

• US 20070220067A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Suriyanarayanan, Guhan, Liu, Huisheng, Bjorner, Nikolaj, Balakrishnan, Shobana
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1844 Management specifically adapted to replicated file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities

Abstract

Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to replicating initial content in resource replication systems. In aspects, each member participating in a replica group obtains a content set state from a directory service. The content set state indicates whether the member is allowed to synchronize resources with another member participating in the replica group. If the member is designated as a primary member, the member may replicate out resources to its downstream partners. If a member is not designated as a primary member, the member may not replicate out resources to its downstream partners until it has successfully synchronized resources with an upstream partner. Fence values may be set which control which resources win (and are replicated out) during synchronization.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, comprising:

obtaining a content set state used to determine whether a first member participating in a replica group is allowed to synchronize resources with a second member participating in the replica group; and

setting fence values of resources of the first member based on the content set state, wherein a fence value of a resource of the first member, when different from a fence value of a corresponding resource of the second member, determines which resource is replicated out for synchronization of resources between the first and second members.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the content set state indicates whether the first member engages in initial synchronization before engaging in other synchronization activities.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein initial synchronization comprises accepting a request for synchronizing resources from the second member if the content set state indicates that the first member is a designated member from which resources are to be propagated.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein initial synchronization comprises rejecting a request for synchronizing resources from the second member if the content set state indicates that the first member is an initial sync needed member.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein initial synchronization comprises accepting a request for synchronizing resources from the second member if the first member has successfully replicated resources with another member participating in the replica group.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein other synchronization activities comprise synchronization activities in which both members synchronizing resources have already successfully completed initial synchronization.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising setting the content set state to indicate that the first member has successfully completed replication with another member participating in the replica group.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising requesting that a directory service update information that indicates that the first member is no longer a designated member from which resources are to be propagated.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein obtaining a content set state comprises querying the directory service for the content set state associated with the first member.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein setting the content set state comprises instructing the directory service to set the content set state associated with the first member.

11. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising:

certifying data on a first member participating in a replica group;

receiving a request to synchronize resources from a second member participating in the replica group, wherein data on the second member has not been certified;

accepting the request; and

replicating out resources from the first member to the second member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein certifying data on a first member participating in the replica group, comprises setting a content set state on the first member that indicates that the first member is allowed to receive requests from and synchronize resources with other members participating in the replica group.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein certifying data on the first member participating in the replica group comprises setting fence values on the, wherein the fence values indicate which resource wins when synchronizing corresponding resources with other members of the replica group.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fence values for the resources are higher on the first member than for corresponding resources on the second member, and wherein a higher fence value wins against a lower fence value during synchronization between the first and second members.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first member comprises an upstream partner and the second member comprises a downstream partner during synchronization.

16. In a computing environment, an apparatus, comprising:

a resource store arranged to store resources related to a replica group, wherein the resource store is associated with a first member participating in the replica group;

a communication mechanism arranged to connect with a communication mechanism of a second member participating in the replica group; and

an update mechanism including logic for initializing a content set state, wherein the content set state indicates whether the resources are allowed to replicate to the second member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a resource comprises resource data and resource metadata, wherein the resource data includes contents and related attributes of the resource, and wherein the resource metadata include data to be used when synchronizing the resource with a corresponding resource of another member, wherein the resources are pre-existing to initialization by the update mechanism.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the update mechanism also includes logic for initializing fence values of the resource store, wherein fence values control which resources win in a conflict with corresponding resources of another member.