System and method for multi-tiered meta-data caching and distribution in a clustered computer environment
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for distributing meta-data relating to a plurality of data containers in a striped volume set, comprising:
- striping the data containers across a plurality of volumes configured to form the striped volume set, wherein the plurality of volumes are stored across a plurality of computers with each computer storing at least one volume and wherein each volume is a logical arrangement of a plurality of storage devices;
storing a canonical copy of the meta-data of each of the plurality of data containers in the striped volume set in a meta-data volume, wherein the canonical copy of the meta-data comprises an access control list;
organizing the meta-data into a plurality of categories, wherein a first category comprises meta-data that changes for every data access request served by the striped volume set, and wherein a second category comprises meta-data that is read for every data access request served by the striped volume set; and
designating each data volume as a container attribute volume for at least one data container in the striped volume set, wherein the container attribute volume comprises the meta-data of the first category and the second category, and wherein the container attribute volume serves as a first tier caching and distribution point within the striped volume set.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method caches and distributes meta-data for one or more data containers stored on a plurality of volumes configured as a striped volume set (SVS) and served by a plurality of nodes interconnected as a cluster. The SVS comprises one meta-data volume (MDV) configured to store a canonical copy of certain meta-data, including access control lists and directories, associated with all data containers stored on the SVS, and one or more data volumes (DV) configured to store, at least, data content of those containers. In addition, for each data container stored on the SVS, one volume is designated a container attribute volume (CAV) and, as such, is configured to store (“cache”) a canonical copy of certain, rapidly-changing attribute meta-data, including time stamps and container length, associated with that container.
91 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for distributing meta-data relating to a plurality of data containers in a striped volume set, comprising:
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striping the data containers across a plurality of volumes configured to form the striped volume set, wherein the plurality of volumes are stored across a plurality of computers with each computer storing at least one volume and wherein each volume is a logical arrangement of a plurality of storage devices; storing a canonical copy of the meta-data of each of the plurality of data containers in the striped volume set in a meta-data volume, wherein the canonical copy of the meta-data comprises an access control list; organizing the meta-data into a plurality of categories, wherein a first category comprises meta-data that changes for every data access request served by the striped volume set, and wherein a second category comprises meta-data that is read for every data access request served by the striped volume set; and designating each data volume as a container attribute volume for at least one data container in the striped volume set, wherein the container attribute volume comprises the meta-data of the first category and the second category, and wherein the container attribute volume serves as a first tier caching and distribution point within the striped volume set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-implemented system for distributing meta-data relating to a data container in a striped volume set, comprising:
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a storage system operatively interconnected with one or more processors configured to store a canonical copy of the meta-data in a meta-data volume, wherein the canonical copy of the meta-data comprises an access control list; the one or more processors configured to organize the meta-data into a plurality of categories, wherein a first category comprises meta-data that changes for every data access request served by the striped volume set, and wherein a second category comprises meta-data that is read for every data access request served by the striped volume set; and one or more data volumes configured to organized and to store stripes of data of the data container, wherein each of the data volumes is further configured to be designated as a container attribute volume for at least one data container in the striped volume set, wherein the container attribute volume comprises the meta-data of the first category and the second category, and wherein the container attribute volume serves as a first tier caching and distribution point within the striped volume set. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable storage medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, comprising:
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program instructions that stripe a plurality of data containers across a plurality of volumes configured to form a striped volume set, wherein the plurality of volumes are stored across a plurality of computers with each computer storing at least one volume and wherein each volume is a logical arrangement of a plurality of storage devices; program instructions that store a canonical copy of meta-data of each of the plurality of data containers in the striped volume set in a meta-data volume, wherein the canonical copy of the meta-data comprises an access control list; program instructions that organize the meta-data into a plurality of categories, wherein a first category comprises meta-data that changes for every data access request served by the striped volume set, and wherein a second category comprises meta-data that is read for every data access request served by the striped volume set; and program instructions that designate each data volume as a container attribute volume for at least one data container in the striped volume set, wherein the container attribute volume comprises the meta-data of the first category and the second category, and wherein the container attribute volume serves as a first tier caching and distribution point within the striped volume set. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification