File-based virtual storage file system, method and computer program product for automated file management on multiple file system storage devices

• US 6,438,642 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KOM Software Inc.
• Original Assignee: KOM Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Shaath, Kamel
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbrugge, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/313,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/229, 709/213, 709/214, 709/215, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 711/112, 711/114
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0674 Disk device

Abstract

A managed space device and method is disclosed. To store data in the managed space a virtual non-volatile storage medium having a plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media associated therewith is provided. Locations within each physical non-volatile storage medium correspond to locations within the virtual non-volatile storage medium. Then data for storage in the virtual non-volatile storage medium is provided. Once these are provided free space sufficient for storing the provided data is determined at locations within the virtual storage medium. The data is then stored at those locations and indexing information relating to the data is stored within an index.

Claims

1. A method of providing automated file management comprising the steps of storing data in a virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium comprising:

providing said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium having a file-based automated file management file system interfacing with a plurality of file system storage partitions of a plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media associated therewith, locations within each physical non-volatile storage medium of said plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media corresponding to locations within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium;

providing data for storage in said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium using said file-based automated file management file system;

determining any free space at said locations within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium, said free space sufficient for storing the provided data, locations having said any free space corresponding to said locations within said plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media having available non-volatile storage space therein;

storing the provided data at said locations having said any free space; and

storing index information for the stored data.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the index information comprises data indicative of a file identifier, and locations within said virtual file-based nonvolatile storage medium for the stored data.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the index information comprises data indicative of a file identifier, an indication of said physical non-volatile storage medium on which the stored data is stored, and the corresponding locations within said physical non-volatile storage medium for the stored data.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein some of the stored data stored within one of said physical non-volatile storage media is duplicated data of data stored in another of said physical non-volatile storage media.

5. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein a portion of the stored data less than the whole is stored on a first physical non-volatile storage medium and another portion of the stored data less than the whole is stored on a second physical non-volatile storage medium.

6. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said first physical non-volatile storage medium and said second physical non-volatile storage medium form part of different computer systems in communication one with the other via a communication network.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 comprising the steps of:

monitoring access to stored data;

determining from the monitored access a location within the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium for the stored data;

moving the stored data to the determined location; and

updating the index data to reflect the new storage location of the stored data being the determined location.

8.The method as defined in claim 1 comprising the steps of;

verifying the presence of another physical non-volatile storage medium in communication with the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium; and

associating the other physical non-volatile storage medium with the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium thereby dynamically increasing available non-volatile storage space on said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 comprising the steps of:

monitoring access to stored data; and

archiving stored data that is not accessed for more than a predetermined amount of time.

8. The method as defined in claim 8 comprising the step of connecting another computer to a computer network in communication with the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium wherein the presence of another physical non-volatile storage medium is effected by the connection of the other computer.

10. The method as defined in claim 10 herein the step of archiving the stored data comprises transferring the stored data to an area within the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium for archiving, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring access to archived data; and

transferring archived data that is not accessed for more than a predetermined amount of time to a removable physical non-volatile storage media for archiving.

11. A virtual file-based non-volatile storage device comprising:

an automated file management file system;

a plurality of computers each comprising one or more file system partitions on a physical non-volatile storage medium, locations within a plurality of said physical non-volatile storage media corresponding to locations within the virtual file-based non-volatile storage device, said physical non-volatile storage media forming parts of two different computer systems wherein each of said file system partitions is interfaced to said automated file management file system;

means for storing data at locations within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage device, portions less than the whole of the data stored at locations within a first physical non-volatile storage medium from the plurality of physical non-volatile storage media and other portions less than the whole of the data stored at locations within a second other physical non-volatile storage medium from said plurality of physical non-volatile storage media corresponding to the locations within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage device; and

means for storing index data, the index data for locating and retrieving data stored within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage device.

12. The virtual file-based non-volatile storage device as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for storing index data comprises:

means for updating index data, the index data indicative of a location within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium where the data is stored, the location corresponding to locations within said physical non-volatile storage media.

13. The virtual file-based non-volatile storage device as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for storing index data comprises:

means for updating index data, the index data indicative of said physical non-volatile storage medium and a location within said physical non-volatile storage medium where the data is stored.

14. The virtual file-based non-volatile storage device as defined in claim 12 comprising:

means for archiving data stored within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage device.

15. A method of storing data in a virtual file-based non-volatile storage comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium having an automated file management file system having in turn, and interfacing with, a plurality of file system partitions of a plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media associated therewith, locations within each physical non-volatile storage medium from the plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media corresponding to locations within said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium;

providing data for storage in said virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium;

determining free space at locations within the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium, the free space sufficient for storing the provided data, the locations corresponding to locations within the plurality of corresponding physical non-volatile storage media having available storage space therein;

storing the provided data at the locations corresponding to the free space; and

storing index information for the stored data, wherein the physical non-volatile storage media form parts of different computer systems in communication with each other via a communication network.

16. The method as defined in claim 16 comprising the steps of:

monitoring access to stored data;

determining from the monitored access a location within the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium for the stored data;

moving the stored data to the determined location; and

updating the index data to reflect the new storage location of the stored data.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 comprising the steps of:

verifying the presence of another physical non-volatile storage medium in communication with the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium; and

associating the other physical non-volatile storage medium with the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium thereby dynamically increasing available physical non-volatile storage space of the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium.

19. The method as defined in claim 16 comprising the steps of:

monitoring access to stored data; and

archiving stored data that is not accessed for more than a predetermined amount of time.

18. The method as defined in claim 18 comprising the step of connecting another computer to a computer network in communication with the virtual file-based non-volatile storage medium wherein the presence of another physical non-volatile storage medium is effected by the connection of the other computer.