File aggregation in a switched file system
First Claim
1. A method for managing files by a file switch in a file storage system, each file associated with a file type, the method comprising:
- aggregating, by the file switch, a plurality of storage volumes including at least one native mode volume and at least one extended mode volume into a global namespace;
allowing, by the file switch, client access to files in the at least one native mode volume indirectly via the aggregated global namespace;
maintaining, by the file switch, a set of rules for storing files in a plurality of file servers including at least a metadata server and a storage server, the rules defining at least one file type to be stored in the metadata server; and
storing, by the file switch, a file based at least in part on the file type associated with the file according to the set of rules, whereby the file is stored in the metadata server only if the file type associated with the file is a file type to be stored in the metadata server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a switched file system, a file switching device is logically positioned between clients and file servers and communicates with the clients and the file servers using standard network file protocols. The file switching device appears as a server to the client devices and as a client to the file servers. The file switching device aggregates storage from multiple file servers into a global filesystem and presents a global namespace to the client devices. The file switching device typically supports a “native” mode for integrating legacy files into the global namespace and an “extended” mode for actively managing files across one or more file servers. Typically, native-mode files may be accessed directly or indirectly via the file switching device, while extended-mode files may be accessed only through the file switching device. The file switching device may manage file storage using various types of rules, e.g., for managing multiple storage tiers or for applying different types of encoding schemes to files. Rules may be applied to pre-existing files.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for managing files by a file switch in a file storage system, each file associated with a file type, the method comprising:
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aggregating, by the file switch, a plurality of storage volumes including at least one native mode volume and at least one extended mode volume into a global namespace; allowing, by the file switch, client access to files in the at least one native mode volume indirectly via the aggregated global namespace; maintaining, by the file switch, a set of rules for storing files in a plurality of file servers including at least a metadata server and a storage server, the rules defining at least one file type to be stored in the metadata server; and storing, by the file switch, a file based at least in part on the file type associated with the file according to the set of rules, whereby the file is stored in the metadata server only if the file type associated with the file is a file type to be stored in the metadata server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A switched file apparatus for managing files, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory, the programmed instructions comprising; aggregating a plurality of storage volumes into a global namespace, the plurality of storage volumes including at least one native mode volume and at least one extended mode volume; allowing client access to files in the at least one native mode volume indirectly via the aggregated global namespace; maintaining a set of rules for storing files in a plurality of file servers including at least a metadata server and a storage server, the rules defining at least one file type to be stored in the metadata server; and storing a file based at least in part on the file type associated with the file according to the set of rules, whereby the file is stored in the metadata server only if the file type associated with the file is a file type to be stored in the metadata server. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of storing files by a file switch in a switched file system, each file associated with a file type, the method comprising:
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maintaining, by the file switch, a set of rules for storing files in a plurality of file servers including at least a metadata server and a storage server, the rules defining at least one file type to be stored in the metadata server; and storing, by the file switch, a file based at least in part on the file type associated with the file according to the set of rules, whereby the file is stored in the metadata server only if the file type associated with the file is a file type to be stored in the metadata server. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A switched file apparatus for storing files, each file associated with a file type, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory, the programmed instructions comprising; maintaining a set of rules for storing files in a plurality of file servers comprising a metadata server and a storage server, the rules defining at least one file type to be stored in the metadata server; and storing a file based at least in part on the file type associated with the file according to the set of rules, whereby the file is stored in the metadata server only if the file type associated with the file is a file type to be stored in the metadata server. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification