Optimized file creation in WAN-optimized storage

• US 9,307,025 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Riverbed Technology, LLC (Riverbed Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Riverbed Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kini, Adityashankar
• Primary Examiner(s): Sison, June
• Application Number:
  US13/074,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• 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]

Abstract

The file creation on remote data storage accessible via a WAN can be optimized by creating temporary files in advance on a remote data storage. The file handles or other file access parameters for these temporary files are cached at a client network location. A file creation request from a client is intercepted at the client network location and one of the cached file handle is returned to the client. This enables the client to immediately write data to the corresponding temporary file, avoiding the delay incurred by communicating the file creation request and its response over a WAN. One or more storage commands are sent to the remote data storage to change the attributes of the temporary file to match those requested by the client, such as the file name, directory, and/or file permissions. File creation requests may be selectively optimized according to rules or criteria specified by users.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing creation of files on a remote data storage, the method comprising:

prior to receiving a request for creating a new file at a second network location from a first client,

creating a new file set of at least a new temporary file on a remote data storage at a first network location,

transferring file access parameters for the new file set via a network to the second network location, wherein the file access parameters include a file handle, and

caching the file access parameters at the second network location;

receiving the request for creating the new file at the second network location from the first client, wherein the request for creating the new file includes new file creation attributes;

in response to receiving the request for creating the new file, providing at least the file handle from the cached file access parameters to the first client, thereby providing the first client with access to the new temporary file in the new file set; and

issuing at least one storage command from the second network location directing the remote data storage at the first network location to modify the new temporary file to match at least a portion of the new file creation attributes, wherein the storage command is adapted to direct the remote data storage to rename the new temporary file to a file name specified in the new file creation attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes a wide-area network connecting a first local-area network at the first network location and a second local-area network at the second network location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage command is adapted to direct the remote data storage to move the new temporary file to a file directory specified in the new file creation attributes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the new file creation request comprises:

intercepting the new file creation request at the second network location, wherein the new file creation request is directed from the first client to the remote data storage.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein intercepting the new file creation request comprises:

determining if the new file creation request matches a file rule;

in response to the determination that the new file creation request does not match the file rule, forwarding the new file creation request to the remote data storage at the first network location; and

in response to the new file creation request matching the file rule, preventing the new file creation request from reaching the remote data storage at the first network location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the file rule is configured by a user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least a portion of a file name.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least a file type.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least a file location.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least an application associated with the new file creation request.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least the first client associated with the new file creation request.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein caching is performed by a WAN optimization device at the second network location.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein caching is performed by an application executed by the first client.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the new file set is associated with a WAN optimization device at the second network location, such that the file access parameters are not cached by any other entity.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the new file set is associated with the second network location, such that the file access parameters are not cached at any other network location.

16. A method of optimizing creation of files on a remote data storage, the method comprising:

prior to receiving a request for creating a new file at a first network location from a first client,

receiving file access parameters at a first network location, wherein the file access parameters correspond with a new file set including at least a new temporary file on a remote data storage at a second network location, wherein the file access parameters include a file handle, and

caching the file access parameters;

receiving the request for creating the new file at the first network location from the first client, wherein the request for creating the new file includes new file creation attributes;

in response to receiving the request for creating the new file, providing at least the file handle from the cached file access parameters to the first client, thereby providing the first client with access to the new temporary file in the new file set; and

issuing at least one storage command from the first network location directing the remote data storage at the second network location to modify the new temporary file to match at least a portion of the new file creation attributes, wherein the storage command is adapted to direct the remote data storage to rename the new temporary file to a file name specified in the new file creation attributes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first network location includes a first local-area network and the second network location includes a second local-area network, wherein the first local-area network is connected with the second local-area network via a wide-area network.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the storage command is adapted to direct the remote data storage to move the new temporary file to a file directory specified in the new file creation attributes.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the new file creation request comprises:

determining if the new file creation request matches a file rule;

in response to the determination that the new file creation request does not match the file rule, forwarding the new file creation request to the remote data storage at the second network location; and

in response to the new file creation request matching the file rule, preventing the new file creation request from reaching the remote data storage at the second network location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the file rule is configured by a user.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least a portion of a file name.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least a file type.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least a file location.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least an application associated with the new file creation request.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the file rule is adapted to select a file based on at least the first client associated with the new file creation request.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein caching is performed by a WAN optimization device at the first network location.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein caching is performed by an application executed by the first client.