Method and apparatus for client sided backup and redundancy

• US 6,571,280 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hubacher, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/335,290
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/278, 709/220, 709/226, 709/228, 709/206, 707/1, 707/10, 707/14, 707/218
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata

Abstract

A file request is received by the operating system, and the appropriate IFS driver for the file is called. The IFS driver remaps the drive path based on a drive location list contained in a file redirection table in the IFS driver. Drive or server redundancy is ensured by simultaneously broadcasting writes to each drive on the drive location list. Redundancy is ensured for read operations by sequentially traversing the drive location list in the event of a non-responsive drive or server.

Claims

1. A data processing system implemented method for remapping a path to file servers wherein the data processing system has a resident operation system and at least one application, the method comprising:

presenting a file request to the operation system, wherein the file request includes a first path to a file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling a file request redirection driver;

indexing the file request to a second path designated by the file request redirection driver, wherein indexing the file request includes sequentially traversing a destination location list and assigning a next available destination location server on the destination location list as a destination location server for a second path, and wherein the destination location server is the first destination location server;

receiving no response from the first destination location server for a second path;

destination a non-response destination location server in the destination location list as an available destination location server;

sequentially traversing the destination location list;

assigning a next available destination location server as a second destination location server for a third path; and

redirecting the file request from the first path included in the file request to the third path designation by the file request redirection driver.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the file request redirection driver is a backup installable file system driver.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the backup installable file system driver includes a file redirection table and further, wherein the step of indexing the file request is performed on the file redirection table.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the file request further comprises a unique drive designation.

5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein the step of calling a file request redirection driver is based on the unique drive designation.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving no response, designating the destination location server, sequentially traversing the destination location list, assigning a next responsive destination location server, and redirecting the file request, are recursively performed until a destination location server responds to the request.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the file request includes a read request.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of indexing the file request further comprises:

simultaneously traversing a destination location list; and

assigning all available servers as destination location servers for a second path.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the file request includes a write request.

10. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a type of the file request,

wherein at least one of the second path and the third path is designated by the file request redirection driver based on the type of file request.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the step of determining the type of the file request includes examining a file extension associated with the file request.

12. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the type of the file request is a read request type.

13. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the type of file request is a write request type.

14. A data processing system implemented method for remapping a path to file servers wherein the data processing system has a resident operation system and at least one application, the method comprising:

presenting a file request to the operation system, wherein the file request includes a first path to a file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling a file request redirection driver;

indexing the file request to a second path designated by the file request redirection driver, wherein indexing the file request includes sequentially traversing a destination location list and assigning a all available servers as destination location servers for a second path;

determining if at least one destination location server has responded to the file request;

performing a first specified task on the basis of the determination that at least one destination location server has response to the file request; and

performing a second specified task on the basis of the determination that at least one destination location server has not response to the file request; and

redirecting the file request from the first path included in the file request to a second path designation by the file request redirection driver.

15. A data processing system implemented method optimizing remapping a path to file servers, wherein the data processing system has a resident operation system and at least one application, the method comprising:

determining if a file request has been presented to the operation system for a file request redirection driver, wherein the file request includes a first path to a file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling the next file request redirection driver;

identifying a list of destination location servers for a specific file request;

transmitting a test signal to each destination location server in the list of destination location servers;

receiving a response from each destination location server acknowledging that each destination location server received the transmitted test signal;

measuring the response time associated with each destination location server; and

reordering the list of destination location servers based on the response time associated with each destination location server.

16. A data processing system for remapping a path to file servers wherein the data processing system has a resident operation system and at least one application, the method comprising:

presenting means for presenting a file request to the operating system, wherein the file request includes a first path to file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling means for calling a file request redirection driver;

indexing means for indexing the file request to a second path designated by the file request redirection driver, wherein the indexing means for indexing the file request includes sequential means for sequentially traversing a destination location list and assigning means for assigning a next available destination location server for a second path;

designating means for designating a non-responsive destination server in the designation location list as an unavailable destination location server;

sequential means for traversing the destination location list;

assigning means for assigning a next available destination location server as a second destination location server for a third path; and

redirecting means for redirecting the file request from the first path included in the file request to the third path designation by the file request redirection driver.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the file request redirection driver is a backup installation file system driver.

18. The system recited in claim 17, wherein the backup installable file system driver includes a file redirection table and further, wherein the indexing means for indexing the file request is performed on the file redirection table.

19. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the file request further comprises a unique drive designation.

20. The system recited in claim 19, wherein the calling means for calling a file request redirection driver is based on the unique drive designation.

21. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the receiving means for receiving no response, designating means for designating the destination location server, sequential means for sequentially traversing the destination location list, assigning means for assigning a next responsive destination location server, and redirecting means for redirecting the file request, are recursively performed until a destination location server responds to the request.

22. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the file request includes a read request.

23. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the indexing means for indexing the file request further comprises:

simultaneous means for simultaneously traversing a destination location list; and

assigning means for assigning all available servers as destination location servers for a second path.

24. The system recited in claim 23, wherein the file request includes a write request.

25. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

determining means for determining a type of the file request,

wherein at least one of the second path and the third path is designated by the file request redirection driver based on the type of file request.

26. The system recited in 25, wherein the determination means for determining the type of the file request includes examining a file extension associated with the file request.

27. The system recited in 25, wherein the type of file request is a read request type.

28. The system recited in 25, wherein the type of file request is a write request.

29. A data processing system for remapping a path to file servers wherein the data processing system has a resident operation system and at least one application, the method comprising:

presenting means for presenting a file request to the operating system, wherein the file request includes a first path to file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling means for calling a file request redirection driver;

indexing means for indexing the file request to a second path designated by the file request redirection driver, wherein the indexing means for indexing the file request includes simultaneous means for simultaneous traversing a destination location list and assigning means for assigning a next available destination location server for a second path;

determining means for determining if at least one destination location server has responded to the file request;

performing means for performing a first specified task on the basis of the determination that at least one destination location server has response to the file request; and

performing means for performing a second specified task on the basis of the determination that at least one destination location server has not response to the file request; and

redirecting the file request from the first path included in the file request to a second path designation by the file request redirection driver.

30. A data processing system for optimizing remapping a path to file servers, wherein the data processing system has a resident operation system and at least one application, the system comprising:

determining means for determining if a file request has been presented to the operation system for a file request redirection driver, wherein the file request includes a first path to a file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling means for calling the next file request redirection driver;

identifying means for identifying a list of destination location servers for a specific file request;

transmitting means for transmitting a test signal to each destination location server in the list of destination location servers;

receiving means for receiving a response from each destination location server acknowledging that each destination location server received the transmitted test signal;

measuring means for measuring the response time associated with each destination location server; and

reordering means for reordering the list of destination location servers based on the response time associated with each destination location server.

31. A computer program product implemented in a data processing system implemented method for remapping a path to file servers wherein the computer program product is stored on a computer readable medium and comprises a series of instructions, the instructions comprising:

presenting instructions for presenting a file request to the operating system, wherein the file request includes a first path to file, and wherein the file request is initiated by the application;

calling instructions for calling a file request redirection driver;

indexing instructions for indexing the file request to a second path designated by the file request redirection driver, wherein the indexing the file includes sequentially traversing a destination location list and assigning a next available destination location server on the destination location list as a destination location server for a second path and wherein the destination location server is the destination location server;

receiving instructions for receiving no response from the first destination location server for a second path;

traversing instructions for sequentially traversing the destination location list;

assigning instructions for assigning a next available destination location server as a second destination location server for a third path; and

redirecting instructions for redirecting the file request from the first path included in the file request to the third path designated by the file request redirection driver.

32. The computer program product recited in claim 31, further comprising:

determining instructions for determining a type of the file request,

wherein at least one of the second and the third path is designated by the file request redirection driver based on the type of the file request.