Apparatus and method to manage and copy computer files

• US 7,080,223 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dewey, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LANE, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/272,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 711/114, 711/161, 711/162, 711/213
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox

Abstract

A network attached storage device (“NASD”), where that NASD is capable of communicating with one or more host computers, and where that NASD is capable of communicating with one or more data storage and retrieval systems. The network attached storage device includes an information storage device, a first file system driver, where that first file system driver is in communication with the information storage device, and a second file system driver, where that second file system driver is in communication with the first file system driver. The network attached storage device further includes a plurality of first computer files stored on the information storage device, and a plurality of second computer files, where one or more of the plurality of first computer files comprises two or more of the plurality of second computer files.

Claims

1. A network attached storage device, wherein said network attached storage device is capable of communicating with one or more host computers, and wherein said network attached storage device is capable of communicating with one or more data storage and retrieval systems, comprising:

an information storage device;

a first file system driver, wherein said first file system driver is in communication with said information storage device;

a second file system driver, wherein said second file system driver is in communication with said first file system driver;

a plurality of first computer files stored on said information storage device;

a plurality of second computer files;

wherein one or more of said plurality of first computer files comprises two or more of said plurality of second computer files.

2. The network attached storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first logical block array comprising said plurality of first computer files; and

a second logical block array comprising said plurality of second computer files.

3. The network attached storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage management program capable of communicating with one or more of said one or more data storage and retrieval systems and with said information storage device;

networking software, wherein said networking software is capable of communicating with said one or more host computers;

a first device driver, wherein said first device driver communicates with said first file system driver and with said information storage device; and

a second device driver, wherein said second device driver communicates with said second file system driver and with said first file system driver.

4. The network attached storage device of claim 3, further comprising:

a first file system comprising said first logical block array; and

a second file system comprising said second logical block array.

5. The network attached storage device of claim 4, wherein said second file system comprises a rewriteable file system.

6. The network attached storage device of claim 4, wherein said second file system comprises a WORM file system.

7. A network attached storage device, wherein said network attached storage device is capable of communicating with one or more host computers, and wherein said network attached storage device is capable of communicating with one or more data storage and retrieval systems, comprising:

an information storage device;

a storage management program capable of communicating with one or more of said one or more data storage and retrieval systems and with said information storage device;

a first file system driver, wherein said first file system driver is in communication with said information storage device;

networking software, wherein said networking software is capable of communicating with said one or more host computers;

a second file system driver, wherein said second file system driver is in communication with said networking software;

a plurality of first computer files stored on said information storage device;

a plurality of second computer files;

wherein one or more of said plurality of first computer files comprises two or more of said plurality of second computer files;

a first logical block array comprising said plurality of first computer files;

a second logical block array comprising said plurality of second computer files;

a first device driver, wherein said first device driver communicates with said first file system driver and with said information storage device;

a second device driver, wherein said second device driver communicates with said second file system driver and with said first file system driver;

a first file system, wherein said first file system comprises said first logical block array;

a second file system, wherein said second file system comprises said second logical block array, and wherein said second file system comprises a Write Once Read Many times file system; and

an operating system.