File system for a plurality of storage classes
First Claim
1. An apparatus in a data processing system comprising:
- external storage including a plurality of external storage units for storing data in data files wherein each data file includes a plurality of data cells and wherein the data cells for a data file have a cell sequence;
internal storage for storing the data of the data cells of a data file and the data cell sequence of the data file;
a plurality of access paths for transferring data between internal storage and external storage, each path for concurrently transferring a different data cell from a data file;
request means for generating access requests to external storage for transfer of the data between data files in the external storage and the internal storage;
transfer means responsive to the access requests for managing concurrent transfers of data cells for a data file between internal storage and external storage through the plurality of access paths where the location of a data cell in the data cell sequence is transferred with the data for the data cell to preserve the data cell sequence for the data file;
designation means for designating an external storage unit as a failing external storage unit when errors are associated with the external storage unit;
allocation means for allocating failed-unit data from a failing external storage unit to a non-failing external storage unit; and
reconstruction means for reconstructing the failed-unit data in the non-failing external storage unit to remove errors from the failed-unit data.
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Abstract
A file system for managing data files for access by a plurality of users of a data processing system that includes internal storage for buffering, external storage, and a file user interface by which the plurality of users request access to data files. A first level, coupled to the file user interface in the internal storage allocates the internal storage for temporary storage of data to be accessed by the plurality of users, and generates requests for transactions with external storage in support of such allocations. A second level is coupled to the first level and the external storage and responds to the request for transactions with the external storage for managing the transactions for storage of data to, and retrieval of data from, the external storage. The second level defines a plurality of physical storage classes which are characterized by pre-specified parameters that allocate data files subject of transactions to locations in external memory. In response to requests for transactions, the second level identifies one of the plurality of storage classes assigned to the data file subject of the transaction and carries out the transaction with the appropriate locations in external memory. At least one of the plurality of storage classes provides for utilization of a plurality of access paths in parallel for transactions involving data files assigned to such storage class. Further, at least one parameter pre-specified for storage classes identifies a level of reliability desired for the subject data files.
91 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus in a data processing system comprising:
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external storage including a plurality of external storage units for storing data in data files wherein each data file includes a plurality of data cells and wherein the data cells for a data file have a cell sequence; internal storage for storing the data of the data cells of a data file and the data cell sequence of the data file; a plurality of access paths for transferring data between internal storage and external storage, each path for concurrently transferring a different data cell from a data file; request means for generating access requests to external storage for transfer of the data between data files in the external storage and the internal storage; transfer means responsive to the access requests for managing concurrent transfers of data cells for a data file between internal storage and external storage through the plurality of access paths where the location of a data cell in the data cell sequence is transferred with the data for the data cell to preserve the data cell sequence for the data file; designation means for designating an external storage unit as a failing external storage unit when errors are associated with the external storage unit; allocation means for allocating failed-unit data from a failing external storage unit to a non-failing external storage unit; and reconstruction means for reconstructing the failed-unit data in the non-failing external storage unit to remove errors from the failed-unit data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification