Fast file server methods and system

• US 8,775,510 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PME IP Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: PME IP Australia Pty Ltd. (Pro Medicus Limited)
• Inventors: Westerhoff, Malte, Stalling, Detlev
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US13/755,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217-219, 709/250, 717/148, 707/704, 707/764, 707/E17.007, 710/7, 710/20, 710/21, 711/168, 711/E12.063, 712/9
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/183 Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS network file access protocols H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

The invention provides, in one aspect, an improved system for data access comprising a file server that is coupled to a client device or application executing thereon via one or more networks. The server comprises static storage that is organized in one or more directories, each containing, zero, one or more files. The server also comprises a file system operable, in cooperation with a file system on the client device, to provide authorized applications executing on the client device access to those directories and/or files. Fast file server (FFS) software or other functionality executing on or in connection with the server responds to requests received from the client by transferring requested data to the client device over multiple network pathways. That data can comprise, for example, directory trees, files (or portions thereof), and so forth.

Claims

1. A system for a client to access data comprising:

a file server;

a plurality of networks;

a configuration file stored on the file server which identifies from the plurality of networks, one or more network interfaces over which data can be transferred between the file server and the client;

a client device in communication with the file server via at least one of the plurality of networks, where the client device is authorized to receive the configuration file; and

a fast file server executing in connection with the file server that responds to requests received from the client device by transferring requested data to the client device over the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file.

2. The system of claim 1, where the data comprises any of directory trees, files, or portions thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more security keys that can be used by one or both the client and the server in connection with a requested data transfer.

4. The system of claim 3, where the one or more security keys are contained in the configuration file.

5. The system of claim 3, where the one or more security keys can be used to validate a requested data transfer.

6. The system of claim 3, where the one or more security keys can be used to identify a requested data transfer.

7. The system of claim 1, where the file server controls access to the configuration file.

8. The system of claim 7, where the file server controls access by way of access permissions associated with the configuration file.

9. The system of claim 1, where the fast file server listens for requests on network interfaces identified in the configuration file.

10. The system of claim 1, where the fast file server responds to requests received from the client by transferring requested data to the client device via the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file.

11. A system for a client to access data comprising:

a file server;

a plurality of networks;

a configuration file stored on the file server which identifies from the plurality of networks, one or more network interfaces over which data can be transferred between the file server and the client;

a plurality of client devices, each coupled for communications with the file server via the plurality of networks, where each of the plurality of client devices is authorized to receive the configuration file; and

a fast file server executing in connection with the file server that responds to requests received from the client by transferring requested data to one or more of the plurality of client devices over the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file.

12. The system of claim 11, where the fast file server transfers data requested by a first client device of the plurality of client devices to the first client device over a first set of network interfaces and data requested by a second client device of the plurality of client devices to the second client device over a second set of network interfaces.

13. The system of claim 12, where the first set of network interfaces and the second set of network interfaces have one or more network pathways in common.

14. The system of claim 12, where the first set of network interfaces and the second set of network interfaces have all network interfaces in common.

15. The system of claim 12, where the first set of network interfaces and the second set of network interfaces have no network interfaces in common.

16. A method of improved data transfer between a file server and a client comprising:

communicating with a file server via at least one of a plurality of networks, where the file server includes a configuration file stored on the file server which identifies from the plurality of networks, one or more network interfaces over which data can be transferred between the file server and the client;

verifying the authority of the client to receive the configuration file; and

acting on a request by the client to transfer requested data, where the requested data is transferred over the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file.