Remote access agent for caching in a SAN file system
First Claim
1. A method implemented in a Remote Access Agent (RAA) to store and access remotely obtained data as a copy local to a Storage Area Network (SAN), wherein said method comprises the steps of:
- a. receiving, at said SAN, remote data from a remote source;
said remote source external to said SAN;
b. said SAN decoupling attributes from content in said received remote data to form decoupled attributes and decoupled content;
c. said SAN locally storing in computer storage said decoupled attributes as metadata and a copy of said decoupled content, separately, said metadata comprising at least;
a content storage attribute if said local copy represents a file, a directory mapping if said local copy represents a directory entry, and object attributes, said decoupled attributes being updatable by fetching attribute data from said remote source, said storage storing SAN file system contents in containers holding managed data originating from remote sources, with each container comprising one or more directories and each directory further comprises one or more files, attachment points, and symbolic links; and
d. said SAN obtaining file-level access to said decoupled content based on said locally stored decoupled attributes only when a consistency guarantee exists for said locally stored decoupled attributes, said consistency guarantee providing assurance of metadata and file content validity and said consistency policy defining conditions for freshness check of attributes, and said consistency guarantee expiring after a pre-determined period of time, said freshness check comprising;
triggering a check of attributes associated with a local object, checking for metadata defining a consistency guarantee for said local object, based on said checking step, fetching from said remote source attributes of a remote object associated with said local object, based on said fetching step, creating a consistency guarantee for said local object, and merging said fetched attributes with attributes already associated with said local object.
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Abstract
Addressed is a system and method for remote data caching and replication by local copy maintenance of remote data within a SAN file system. Distributed Storage Tank (DST), an extension to a SAN file system, provides for transparent SAN client access of local copies by importing, exporting, and storing data using network file access protocols as well as by providing assurance of metadata and file content validity. A Remote Access Agent (RAA) handles protocol implementation and conversion necessary for communication with remote data sources. Controlled by a consistency policy, consistency is maintained by RAA fetching and updating local copies if modifications have occurred to a file since it was first stored as a local copy in local storage. Additionally, RAA returns metadata pertaining to the requested data. A SAN client obtains metadata corresponding to the requested data and utilizes it to directly access locally stored copies of remote data.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method implemented in a Remote Access Agent (RAA) to store and access remotely obtained data as a copy local to a Storage Area Network (SAN), wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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a. receiving, at said SAN, remote data from a remote source;
said remote source external to said SAN;b. said SAN decoupling attributes from content in said received remote data to form decoupled attributes and decoupled content; c. said SAN locally storing in computer storage said decoupled attributes as metadata and a copy of said decoupled content, separately, said metadata comprising at least;
a content storage attribute if said local copy represents a file, a directory mapping if said local copy represents a directory entry, and object attributes, said decoupled attributes being updatable by fetching attribute data from said remote source, said storage storing SAN file system contents in containers holding managed data originating from remote sources, with each container comprising one or more directories and each directory further comprises one or more files, attachment points, and symbolic links; andd. said SAN obtaining file-level access to said decoupled content based on said locally stored decoupled attributes only when a consistency guarantee exists for said locally stored decoupled attributes, said consistency guarantee providing assurance of metadata and file content validity and said consistency policy defining conditions for freshness check of attributes, and said consistency guarantee expiring after a pre-determined period of time, said freshness check comprising;
triggering a check of attributes associated with a local object, checking for metadata defining a consistency guarantee for said local object, based on said checking step, fetching from said remote source attributes of a remote object associated with said local object, based on said fetching step, creating a consistency guarantee for said local object, and merging said fetched attributes with attributes already associated with said local object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for storing a local copy of remote file system data in a Storage Area Network (SAN);
- said system comprising;
a. a client on said SAN requesting, storing, and accessing said local copy; b. a metadata server, local to said SAN, storing metadata describing attributes of said local copy; c. a source of remote file system data external to said SAN; d. a storage device attached to said SAN; and e. a Remote Access Agent (RAA) receiving said remote file system data from said source of remote file system data, decoupling attributes from said remote file system data to form decoupled attributes and decoupled remote file system data, and maintaining said local copy by storing said decoupled attributes as metadata and decoupled remote file system data in said storage device attached to said SAN, said metadata in said metadata server comprising at least;
a content storage attribute if said local copy represents a file, a directory mapping if said local copy represents a directory entry, and object attributes,said decoupled attributes being updatable by fetching attribute data from said remote source, wherein said decoupled attributes are used to obtain file-level access to said decoupled remote file system data only when a consistency guarantee exists for said locally stored decoupled attributes, said consistency guarantee providing assurance of metadata and file content validity and said consistency policy defining conditions for freshness check of attributes, and said consistency guarantee expiring after a pre-determined period of time, said freshness check comprising;
triggering a check of attributes associated with a local object, checking for metadata defining a consistency guarantee for said local object, based on said checking step, fetching from a remote source attributes of a remote object associated with said local object, based on said fetching step, creating a consistency guarantee for said local object, and merging said fetched attributes with attributes already associated with said local object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- said system comprising;
Specification