File system metadata describing server directory information
First Claim
1. A computer network file system, comprising:
- first metadata managed primarily by a first file server operably connected to a network fabric, wherein said first metadata comprises at least one Gnid-string and first file location information, said first file location information comprising a disk identifier and at least one server id; and
second metadata managed primarily by a second file server operably connected to the network fabric, said second metadata comprising second file location information, said second file location information comprising at least one server identifier, said first metadata and said second metadata configured to allow a requestor to locate files stored by said first file server and files stored by said second file server in a directory structure that spans said first file server and said second file server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer network file system is described. The computer network file system includes first metadata, which is managed primarily by a first file server that is operably connected to a network fabric. The first metadata includes first file location information, and the first file location information includes at least one server id. The computer network file system also includes second metadata, which is managed primarily by a second file server that is operably connected to a network fabric. The second metadata includes second file location information, and the second file location information includes at least one server id. The first metadata and the second metadata are configured to allow a requester to locate files that are stored by the first file server and files that are stored by the second file server in a directory structure that spans the first file server and the second file server.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer network file system, comprising:
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first metadata managed primarily by a first file server operably connected to a network fabric, wherein said first metadata comprises at least one Gnid-string and first file location information, said first file location information comprising a disk identifier and at least one server id; and second metadata managed primarily by a second file server operably connected to the network fabric, said second metadata comprising second file location information, said second file location information comprising at least one server identifier, said first metadata and said second metadata configured to allow a requestor to locate files stored by said first file server and files stored by said second file server in a directory structure that spans said first file server and said second file server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for storing data in a computer network, comprising:
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creating first file system metadata on a first file server operably connected to a network fabric, wherein said first file system metadata comprises at least one Gnid-string and describes at least files and directories stored by said first file server; creating second file system metadata on a second file server connected to said network fabric, said second file system metadata describing at least files and directories stored by said second file server, said first file system metadata and said second file system metadata comprising directory information that spans said first file server and said second file server, said directory information configured to allow a reguestor to find a location of a first file catalogued in said directory information without prior knowledae as to a server location of said first file. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification