Remote access program, remote access request-processing program, and client computer

• US 7,124,133 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kawase, Yoshitake, Yamauchi, Katsutoshi, Hosokawa, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US10/117,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/200, 707/104.1, 707/100, 709227-230
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A client computer is capable of designating one of a plurality access paths via respective servers on a file-by-file basis. The client computer defines a plurality of access paths to the storage device by way of the respective server computers (step S1). Next, when an access request defining a file within the storage device is received, the client computer determines a relay server computer which should provide an access path to the file, out of the server computers, according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis (step S2). Then, the client computer accesses the file within the storage device by the access path via the designated relay server computer.

Claims

1. A remote access program for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

wherein the remote access program causes a client computer to execute a process for:

defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer, which is one of the server computers, providing an access path to the file according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis; and

accessing the file within the storage device by the determined access path via the determined relay server computer;

wherein the predetermined rule is a calculating equation using an identification number set to the file in advance and a number of the server computers proving the access paths as variables.

2. The remote access program according to claim 1, wherein when the relay server computer is halted, an alternate server computer for carrying out processing of the halted relay server computer for remote access in place thereof is determined from the server computers, and

wherein the file within the storage device designated by the access request is accessed by the access path via the determined alternate server computer.

3. The remote access program according to claim 2, wherein when a notification that the alternate server computer carries out the processing for the remote access to a predetermined file in the storage device in place of the halted relay server computer is received, the access to the predetermined file indicated by the notification which occurs thereafter is carried out via the alternate server computer.

4. A remote access program according to claim 1, wherein if the access request is for writing to the file, then a new contents of the file is transferred to the server computer when the access request is sent.

5. A client computer for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

the client computer comprising:

access path defining means for defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

access path-determining means for determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer, which is one of the server computers, providing an access path to the file according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths defined by said access path-defining means on a file-by-file basis; and

remote access means for accessing the file within the storage device by the access path determined by said access path-determining means via the determined relay server computer;

wherein the predetermined rule is a calculating equation using an identification number set to the file in advance and a number of the server computers providing the access paths as variables.

6. A client computer according to claim 5, wherein if the access request is for writing to the file, then a new contents of the file is transferred to the server computer when the access request is sent.

7. A remote access method for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device,

the method comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer, which is one of the server computers, providing an access path to the file according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis; and

accessing the tile within the storage device by the determined access path via the determined relay server computer;

wherein the predetermined rule is a calculating equation using an identification number set to the file in advance and a number of the server computers providing the access paths as variables.

8. A remote access method according to claim 7, wherein if the access request is for writing to the file, then a new contents of the file is transferred to the server computer when the access request is sent.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a remote access program for accessing a common storage device via a plurality of server computers each providing a function of accessing the common storage device, wherein the remote access program causes a client computer to execute a process for;

defining a plurality of access paths to the storage device via the respective server computers;

determining, when an access request designating a file within the storage device is received, a relay server computer, which is one of the server computers, providing an access path to the file according to a predetermined rule for distributing accesses to the storage device among the plurality of access paths on a file-by-file basis; and

accessing the file within the storage device by the determined access path via the determined relay server computer;

wherein the predetermined rule is a calculating equation using an identification number set to the file in advance and a number of the server computers providing the access paths as variables.

10. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein if the access request is for writing to the file, then a new contents of the file is transferred to the server computer when the access request is sent.