On Demand File Virtualization for Server Configuration Management with Limited Interruption
First Claim
1. In a storage network having one or more storage servers and having a distributed file system (DFS) server that exports a global namespace consisting of file objects exported by the storage servers in the storage network, and wherein clients of the storage network always consult the DFS server for the identification of a storage server that exports an unknown file object before accessing, and wherein clients of the storage network may choose to access a known file object directly from its storage server without consulting the DFS server for its accuracy, a method of inserting a file virtualization appliance for maintaining consistency of the namespace during namespace reconfiguration, the method comprising:
- configuring a global namespace of the virtualization appliance to match a global namespace exported by the distributed filesystem server; and
updating the distributed filesystem server to redirect client requests associated with the global namespace to the virtualization appliance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inserting a file virtualization appliance into a storage network involves configuring a global namespace of a virtualization appliance to match a global namespace exported by a distributed filesystem (DFS) server and updating the distributed filesystem server to redirect client requests associated with the global namespace to the virtualization appliance. Removing the file virtualization appliance involves sending a global namespace from the virtualization appliance to the distributed filesystem server and configuring the virtualization appliance to not respond to any new client connection requests received by the virtualization appliance.
145 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a storage network having one or more storage servers and having a distributed file system (DFS) server that exports a global namespace consisting of file objects exported by the storage servers in the storage network, and wherein clients of the storage network always consult the DFS server for the identification of a storage server that exports an unknown file object before accessing, and wherein clients of the storage network may choose to access a known file object directly from its storage server without consulting the DFS server for its accuracy, a method of inserting a file virtualization appliance for maintaining consistency of the namespace during namespace reconfiguration, the method comprising:
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configuring a global namespace of the virtualization appliance to match a global namespace exported by the distributed filesystem server; and updating the distributed filesystem server to redirect client requests associated with the global namespace to the virtualization appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for removing a virtualization appliance logically positioned between client devices and file servers in a storage network having a distributed filesystem server, the method comprising:
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sending a global namespace from the virtualization appliance to the distributed filesystem server; and configuring the virtualization appliance to not respond to any new client connection requests received by the virtualization appliance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification