Protocol virtualization for a network file system
First Claim
1. A method of protocol virtualization for a network file system, comprising:
- establishing at least one virtual file server (VFS) in a data path between at least one client and at least one physical file servers (PFS);
presenting a virtualized name space to the at least one client, the virtualized name space mapped to individual name spaces of at least one PFS by the at least one VFS;
virtualizing an ID space;
providing the virtualized ID space to the plurality of clients by the VFSs, the clients perceiving the VFS as a file server;
re-formatting transaction requests from the at least one client by the at least one VFS for delivery to at least one PFS; and
re-formatting transaction responses from the at least one PFS by the at least one VFS for deliver to the at least one client.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing protocol virtualization for a network file system. In particular, at least one virtual file server is established in the data path between the clients and the physical file systems. The virtual file server presents a virtualized name space and a virtualized ID space to the clients, the virtualized name and ID space representing the physical files on the physical file servers. To the clients, the virtual file server appears to be file server. To the physical file servers, the virtual file server appears to be a client. Junction directories permit the virtual file servers to combine physically separate directories to appear as one, and permit migration of objects between the physical file servers without perception by the clients.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of protocol virtualization for a network file system, comprising:
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establishing at least one virtual file server (VFS) in a data path between at least one client and at least one physical file servers (PFS); presenting a virtualized name space to the at least one client, the virtualized name space mapped to individual name spaces of at least one PFS by the at least one VFS; virtualizing an ID space; providing the virtualized ID space to the plurality of clients by the VFSs, the clients perceiving the VFS as a file server; re-formatting transaction requests from the at least one client by the at least one VFS for delivery to at least one PFS; and re-formatting transaction responses from the at least one PFS by the at least one VFS for deliver to the at least one client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of protocol virtualization for a network file system, comprising:
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establishing at least one virtual file server (VFS) in a data path between at least one client and at least one physical file server (PFS); presenting a virtualized name space to the at least one client, the virtualized name space mapped to individual name spaces of at least one PFS by the at least one VFS; virtualizing an ID space in response to a request from a client, within the ID space each file identified by a physical file handle (PFH) on each PFS, the PFH and PFS pair mapped to provide a virtual file handle (VFH), the map of VFHs stored by the at least one VFS; and providing the VFHs to the plurality of clients by the VFSs, the clients perceiving the VFS as a file server; wherein with each file request from a first client, a first VFS receives a first VFH, the first VFS translating the first VFH to the associated PFH and PFS, the first VFS re-formatting the file request and directing the re-formatted file request and PFH to the PFS, the first VFS receiving at least one response from the PFS, the VFS reformatting the response and transmitting the re-formatted response to the first client. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network file system, comprising:
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at least one unmodified client; at least one unmodified physical file server (PFS), each PFS having at least one file identified by an associated physical file handle (PFH); at least one virtual file server (VFS) in a data path between the at least one client and at least one PFS; a virtualized name space mapped to the at least one PFS, the name space provided to the at least one client by the at least one VFS; a virtualized ID space established in response to a request from a client, within the ID space each file identified by a physical file handle (PFH) on a PFS, the PFH and PFS pair mapped to provide a virtual file handle (VFH), the map of VFHs stored by the at least one VFS. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification