File manager for files shared by heterogeneous clients
First Claim
1. A computer comprising:
- means for storing in a common storage area a multiplicity of data objects having at least two different data formats and a directory listing said data objects;
first and second protocol converter means, coupled to receive requests exhibiting first and second different protocols from first and second clients, respectively to read said directory, for converting said requests into a common protoco, said first and second clients having respective first and second, different data formats;
file manger means, coupled to receive the converted requests exhibiting said common protocol from both protocol converters, for furnishing to each of said first and second clients a respective list of data objects having names compatible with the respective data format and not furnishing to each of said first and second clients a respective list of data objects not having names compatible with the respective data format;
said first protocol converter means converts and said file manager means executes a request exhibiting said first protocol from said first client to rename a data object in said directory from a name having a data format compatible with the data format of said first client but incompatible with the data format of said second client to another name having a data format compatible with both said first and second clients such that said first and second clients can access said data object with said other name after the renaming.
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Abstract
A computer system manages files shared by first and second heterogeneous clients. The first client exhibits a first protocol such as SMB and the second client exhibits a second, different protocol such as NFS. A first protocol converter receives requests from the first client to create, read and update the files, and converts the requests to corresponding requests exhibiting a common protocol. A second protocol converter receives requests from the second client to create, read and update the files, and converts the requests to corresponding requests exhibiting the common protocol. A file manager is common to both clients and both protocol converters, receives the converted requests exhibiting the common protocol and executes the requests in a name space and data area which are both common to the first and second clients. The name space stores names of the files and the data area stores the files. The file manager provides access by each of the clients to files and names of the files created by the other client. A common lock manager is provided for the common name space and common data area. The system also supports second and third name spaces and data areas dedicated to the first and second clients, respectively.
389 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A computer comprising:
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means for storing in a common storage area a multiplicity of data objects having at least two different data formats and a directory listing said data objects; first and second protocol converter means, coupled to receive requests exhibiting first and second different protocols from first and second clients, respectively to read said directory, for converting said requests into a common protoco, said first and second clients having respective first and second, different data formats; file manger means, coupled to receive the converted requests exhibiting said common protocol from both protocol converters, for furnishing to each of said first and second clients a respective list of data objects having names compatible with the respective data format and not furnishing to each of said first and second clients a respective list of data objects not having names compatible with the respective data format; said first protocol converter means converts and said file manager means executes a request exhibiting said first protocol from said first client to rename a data object in said directory from a name having a data format compatible with the data format of said first client but incompatible with the data format of said second client to another name having a data format compatible with both said first and second clients such that said first and second clients can access said data object with said other name after the renaming. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing data access requests by first and second clients exhibiting first and second different, respective communication protocols and first and second respective different, but partially compatible data formats, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing data objects and a directory listing said data objects in a common storage area; converting into a common protocol a request received from said first client to rename a data object created by said second client to a name which is incompatible with the data format of said second client; and executing the converted rename request by changing the name of the respective data object in said directory and subsequently denying access by said second client to said renamed data object even though said renamed data object is still stored in said common storage area. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification