System and method for partitioning a file system for enhanced availability and scalability
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- one or more server computer systems, wherein each of the one or more server computer systems comprises a respective processor and a respective memory; and
one or more nonvolatile storage devices, wherein the one or more nonvolatile storage devices store a plurality of physical file systems which are hosted by the one or more server computer systems;
wherein the plurality of physical file systems are accessible through a virtual file system having a namespace, wherein the virtual file system includes metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems, wherein a respective partition of the metadata of the virtual file system is stored on each of the one or more nonvolatile storage devices;
wherein the one or more server computer systems are configured to;
independently perform a file system consistency check on each of the physical file systems to independently validate each partition of the metadata;
determine a plurality of links between the physical file systems by determining a plurality of shadow file identifiers, wherein each of the shadow file identifiers comprises a placeholder in a respective one of the physical file systems for a remote file stored in a respective different one of the physical file systems; and
perform a file system consistency check to validate metadata comprising the links between the physical file systems.
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for partitioning a file system. The system may include one or more server computer systems and a plurality of physical file systems. The physical file systems may be hosted by the one or more server computer systems. The physical file systems may be accessible to clients through a virtual file system having a single namespace. The virtual file system may include metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems. The server computer systems may be configured to independently perform file system consistency checks on each of the physical file systems, in order to independently validate each partition of the metadata.
155 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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one or more server computer systems, wherein each of the one or more server computer systems comprises a respective processor and a respective memory; and one or more nonvolatile storage devices, wherein the one or more nonvolatile storage devices store a plurality of physical file systems which are hosted by the one or more server computer systems; wherein the plurality of physical file systems are accessible through a virtual file system having a namespace, wherein the virtual file system includes metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems, wherein a respective partition of the metadata of the virtual file system is stored on each of the one or more nonvolatile storage devices; wherein the one or more server computer systems are configured to; independently perform a file system consistency check on each of the physical file systems to independently validate each partition of the metadata; determine a plurality of links between the physical file systems by determining a plurality of shadow file identifiers, wherein each of the shadow file identifiers comprises a placeholder in a respective one of the physical file systems for a remote file stored in a respective different one of the physical file systems; and perform a file system consistency check to validate metadata comprising the links between the physical file systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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exporting a plurality of physical file systems as a virtual file system with a namespace, wherein the plurality of physical file systems are stored on one or more nonvolatile storage devices, wherein the virtual file system includes metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems, wherein a respective partition of the metadata of the virtual file system is stored on each of the one or more nonvolatile storage devices; independently performing a file system consistency check on each of the physical file systems to independently validate each partition of the metadata; determining a plurality of links between the physical file systems by determining a plurality of shadow file identifiers, wherein each of the shadow file identifiers comprises a placeholder in a respective one of the physical file systems for a remote file stored in a respective different one of the physical file systems; and performing a file system consistency check to validate metadata comprising the links between the physical file systems. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
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exporting a plurality of physical file systems as a virtual file system with a namespace, wherein the plurality of physical file systems are stored on one or more nonvolatile storage devices, wherein the virtual file system includes metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems, wherein a respective partition of the metadata of the virtual file system is stored on each of the one or more nonvolatile storage devices; independently performing a file system consistency check on each of the physical file systems to independently validate each partition of the metadata; determining a plurality of links between the physical file systems by determining a plurality of shadow file identifiers, wherein each of the shadow file identifiers comprises a placeholder in a respective one of the physical file systems for a remote file stored in a respective different one of the physical file systems; and performing a file system consistency check to validate metadata comprising the links between the physical file systems. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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means for exposing a plurality of physical file systems as a virtual file system with a namespace, wherein the plurality of physical file systems are stored on one or more nonvolatile storage devices, wherein the virtual file system includes metadata which are partitioned across the plurality of physical file systems, wherein a respective partition of the metadata of the virtual file system is stored on each of the one or more nonvolatile storage devices; means for independently performing a file system consistency check on each of the physical file systems to independently validate each partition of the metadata; means for determining a plurality of links between the physical file systems by determining a plurality of shadow file identifiers, wherein each of the shadow file identifiers comprises a placeholder in a respective one of the physical file systems for a remote file stored in a respective different one of the physical file systems; and means for performing a file system consistency check to validate metadata comprising the links between the physical file systems.
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Specification