File system that supports transactions

• US 6,922,708 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sedlar, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Miranda
• Application Number:
  US09/571,496
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/81, 707200-202, 707/112, 707/1, 707/8, 707/100, 707/101, 707/205, 709/201, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/188 Virtual file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Techniques are provided for performing file operations. According to one technique, a file system interface is exposed to applications. The file system interface includes routines for saving and retrieving files. Calls to perform a plurality of file operations are received through the file system interface. The plurality of file operations are performed as a single transaction by performing the steps of: if all file operations of the plurality of file operations are completed without a failure, then making permanent all changes made by the plurality of file operations; and if any file operations of the plurality of file operations fail, then undoing all changes made by all of the plurality of file operations.

Claims

1. A method for performing file operations, the method including the steps of:

exposing a file system interface to applications, said file system interface including routines for saving and retrieving files;

receiving through said file system interface calls to perform a plurality of file operations;

performing said plurality of file operations as a single transaction by performing the steps of;

if all file operations of said plurality of file operations are completed without a failure, then making permanent all changes made by said plurality of file operations; and

if any file operations of said plurality of file operations fail, then undoing all changes made by all of said plurality of file operations;

wherein the step of performing said plurality of file operations includes issuing one or more database statements to a database server, said database server executing said database statements to perform said plurality of file operations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said protocol server emulates a device driver interface.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein said protocol server emulates a device driver interface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of file operations include at least a first file operation on a first file and a second file operation on a second file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of file operations include a series of write operations to a single file.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said series of write operations correspond to the transfer of said single file over a network connection to be stored in a database.

3. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing file operations, the computer-readable medium including instructions for performing the steps of:

exposing a file system interface to applications, said file system interface including routines for saving and retrieving files;

receiving through said file system interface calls to perform a plurality of file operations;

performing said plurality of file operations as a single transaction by performing the steps of;

if all file operations of said plurality of file operations are completed without a failure, then making permanent all changes made by said plurality of file operations; and

if any file operations of said plurality of file operations fail, then undoing all changes made by all of said plurality of file operations;

wherein the step of performing said plurality of file operations includes issuing one or more database statements to a database server, said database server executing said database statements to perform said plurality of file operations.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein said plurality of file operations include at least a first file operation on a first file and a second file operation on a second file.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein said plurality of file, operations include a series of write operations to a single file.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein said series of write operations correspond to the transfer of said single file over a network connection to be stored in a database.