File switch and switched file system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer implemented method for aggregating file systems, comprising:
- coupling a group of client computers to a group of file servers through a file switch in a computer network;
at the file switch, aggregating directories of multiple file systems in a plurality of file servers in the group of file servers by presenting them as a single directory to a respective client computer in the group of client computers; and
at the file switch, aggregating file objects of the multiple file systems, each of the file objects having portions stored in different file servers, by presenting them as a single file object to a respective client computer in the group of client computers.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided in a computer network to decouple the client from the server, by placing a transparent network node, also termed a file switch or file switch computer, between the client and the server. Usage of such a file switch allows reduced latency in file transfers, as well as scalable mirroring, striping, spillover, and other features.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A computer implemented method for aggregating file systems, comprising:
-
coupling a group of client computers to a group of file servers through a file switch in a computer network; at the file switch, aggregating directories of multiple file systems in a plurality of file servers in the group of file servers by presenting them as a single directory to a respective client computer in the group of client computers; and at the file switch, aggregating file objects of the multiple file systems, each of the file objects having portions stored in different file servers, by presenting them as a single file object to a respective client computer in the group of client computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A computer-implemented method for aggregating file systems, comprising:
-
coupling a group of client computers to a group of file servers through a file switch in a computer network; and at the file switch, aggregating a namespace of multiple file systems in a plurality of servers in the group of file servers by; storing a set of name-mapping rules in the file switch;
wherein the set of name-mapping rules includes a first rule for mapping a first set of user path names to server path names in a first server of the plurality of servers, and a second rule for mapping a second set of user path names to server path names in a second server of the plurality of servers;receiving a file access transaction from a client, the file access transaction including a user file name and a user path name to a file in the group of file servers; applying the set of name-mapping rules to the user path name to generate a server path name; and executing the file access transaction in accordance with the server path name. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A file switch for use in a computer network having a group of file servers and a plurality of client computers, wherein the plurality of client computers are coupled to the group of file servers through the file switch, the file switch comprising:
-
at least one processing unit configured to execute computer programs; at least one port adapted to exchange information with the file servers and client computers, the information exchanged including information concerning a specified file data; and an aggregation module including one or more computer programs, the computer programs including instructions for; at the file switch, aggregating directories of multiple file systems in a plurality of servers in the group of file servers by presenting them as a single directory to a respective client computer in the plurality of client computers; and at the file switch, aggregating file objects of the multiple file systems, each of the file objects having portions stored in different file servers, by presenting them as a single file object to a respective client computer in the plurality of client computers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A file switch for use in a computer network having a group of file servers and a plurality of client computers, wherein the plurality of client computers are coupled to the group of file servers through the file switch, the file switch comprising:
-
at least one processing unit configured to execute computer programs; at least one port adapted to exchange information with the file servers and client computers, the information exchanged including information concerning a specified file data; and an aggregation module including one or more computer programs, the computer programs including instructions for aggregating a namespace of multiple file systems in a plurality of servers in the group of file servers, the namespace aggregating instructions comprising instructions for; storing a set of name-mapping rules in the file switch;
wherein the set of name-mapping rules includes a first rule for mapping a first set of user path names to server path names in a first server of the plurality of servers, and a second rule for mapping a second set of user path names to server path names in a second server of the plurality of servers;receiving, at the file switch, a file access transaction from a client, the file access transaction including a user file name and a user path name to a file in the group of file servers; applying, at the file switch, the set of name-mapping rules to the user path name to generate a server path name; and executing the file access transaction in accordance with the server path name.
-
Specification