Distributed snapshot process
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A first storage server comprising:
- a resource storage device, for storing a first subset of a partitioned resource;
a first connection, for accessing a second subset of the partitioned resource stored on a second storage server, and for exchanging information with the second storage server so that the first and second storage servers operate as a storage area network;
a second connection, for providing access to the partitioned resource as a whole by one or more network clients;
a routing table storage device, for maintaining a routing table indicating which of the first or second servers is responsible for which subset of the partitioned resource; and
a processor, for executing a snapshot process, the snapshot process determining data indicative of a state of at least the first subset of the partitioned resource, and for receiving data over the first connection from the second storage server indicative of a state of at least the second subset of the partitioned resource, and the snapshot process also generating snapshot state information representative of the partitioned resource as a whole, the snapshot state information being representative of a state of partitioned data as maintained by the first and second storage servers, and including at least information concerning a file structure of such partitioned data.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing an efficient partitioned resource server are disclosed. The partitioned resource server includes a plurality of individual servers, and the individual servers support a storage service. The systems and methods provide archiving processes for partitioned resources. To this end, the systems and process include a snapshot process operating on a server and capable of coordinating with other snapshot processes operating on the other servers for generating state information representative of the state of the partitioned resources.
94 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A first storage server comprising:
a resource storage device, for storing a first subset of a partitioned resource; a first connection, for accessing a second subset of the partitioned resource stored on a second storage server, and for exchanging information with the second storage server so that the first and second storage servers operate as a storage area network; a second connection, for providing access to the partitioned resource as a whole by one or more network clients; a routing table storage device, for maintaining a routing table indicating which of the first or second servers is responsible for which subset of the partitioned resource; and a processor, for executing a snapshot process, the snapshot process determining data indicative of a state of at least the first subset of the partitioned resource, and for receiving data over the first connection from the second storage server indicative of a state of at least the second subset of the partitioned resource, and the snapshot process also generating snapshot state information representative of the partitioned resource as a whole, the snapshot state information being representative of a state of partitioned data as maintained by the first and second storage servers, and including at least information concerning a file structure of such partitioned data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for providing a storage area network comprising the steps of:
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storing a first subset of a partitioned resource on a first server; accessing a second subset of the partitioned resource via a network connection to a second server; allowing access to the partitioned resource as a whole by network clients only from the first server, with the network clients accessing the partitioned resource as a whole and not being given access to state information concerning partitioning of the resource among the first and second storage servers; maintaining a routing table on the first server, the routing table indicating which of the first or second storage server is responsible for which subset of the partitioned resource; and operating a snapshot process on the first server, with the snapshot process holding data of at least the first subset of the partitioned resources, and the snapshot process receiving information from at least a second snapshot process operating on the second server holding data of the second subset of the partitioned resources, and for generating a snapshot of those portions of the partitioned resources maintained by each respective server, and for generating snapshot state information representative of a state of partitioned data maintained by each respective server, the snapshot state information including at least a file structure of such data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification