System and method of file distribution for a computer system in which partial files are arranged according to various allocation rules

• US 7,107,323 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sonoda, Koji, Iwasaki, Masaaki, Hara, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US10/637,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/208, 709/217, 709/218, 709/226, 707/200, 370/400, 370/428
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems

Abstract

In a distributed file system, when a user requests a computer to create a distributed file, a management computer acquires a list of computers complying with an allocation rule selected by the user from allocation rules taking the performance, security level, reliability level and utility rate into consideration. When the user requests the computer to access the distributed file, on the other hand, the partial files and the server information are collected from each computer. Each computer evaluates the allocation of the partial files based on the selected allocation rule and the server information from each computer, and if required, selects a destination computer and instructs the partial files to be moved to the destination computer.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising at least one first computer, a second computer and a third computer connected to one another via a network,

wherein said third computer has information concerning said first computer, and said second computer has information as an allocation rule including a plurality of evaluation items for defining file distribution;

wherein said second computer, upon receipt of an instruction to create a distributed file, transmits said allocation rule to said third computer via the network;

wherein said third computer, upon receipt of said allocation rule, specifies said first computer complying with said allocation rule by reference to the information concerning said first computer, and transmits said information concerning said specified first computer to said second computer via the network;

wherein said second computer transmits partial files of the distributed file instructed for creation, to said first computer via the network based on the received information of said first computer;

wherein said second computer includes a plurality of allocation rules corresponding to file types, and uses the allocation rules corresponding to said file type for which a creation instruction is issued;

wherein said allocation rule which the second computer transmits to the third computer is determined in accordance with a user'"'"'s instruction in creating the distributed file;

wherein priority is set for each of the evaluation items included in said allocation rule; and

wherein, based on the priority set for each of the evaluation items included in said allocation rule, the third computer selects the first computer meeting a higher priority condition by removing evaluation items with lower priority conditions.

2. A computer system connected to at least one first computer and a second computer via a network, comprising a control unit and a storage unit,

wherein said control unit has information indicative of allocation rules including a plurality of evaluation items for defining file distribution,

wherein said control unit transmits said allocation rules to said second computer via the network in response to an instruction to create distributed files,

wherein partial files of a file for which a creation instruction is given are transmitted to said second computer via the network, based on information of said first computer received from said second computer via the network;

wherein said allocation rules transmitted to said second computer are determined in accordance with a user'"'"'s instruction in creating the distributed files;

wherein said allocation rules correspond to file types, and said second computer uses the allocation rules corresponding to said file type for which a creation instruction is issued;

wherein priority is set for each of the evaluation items included in said allocation rule; and

wherein, based on the priority set for each of the evaluation items included in said allocation rule, the third computer selects the first computer meeting a higher priority condition by removing evaluation items with lower priority conditions.

3. A method of file distribution for a computer system including a plurality of first computers, a second computer and a third computer connected to one another via a network, said second computer having information as an allocation rule including a plurality of evaluation items for defining distribution of files, said method comprising;

transmitting said allocation rule to said third computer from said second computer via the network when said second computer is instructed to create a distributed file;

specifying a relevant one of said first computers meeting said allocation rule, through said third computer that has received said allocation rule, with reference to information concerning said first computers, and transmitting information concerning said specified first computer to said second computer via the network;

wherein said second computer transmits partial files of a file instructed for creation, to said relevant first computer via the network based on said received information concerning said first computer;

wherein said second computer includes a plurality of allocation rules corresponding to file types, and uses the allocation rules corresponding to said file type for which a creation instruction is issued; and

determining said allocation rule which the second computer transmits to the third computer in accordance with a user'"'"'s instruction in creating the distributed file;

wherein priority is set for each of the evaluation items included in said allocation rule; and

wherein specifying said relevant one of said first computers meeting said allocation rule comprises, based on the priority set for each of the evaluation items included in said allocation rule, selecting the relevant first computer meeting a higher priority condition by removing evaluation items with lower priority conditions.