Client to client resource sharing in a client-server file-system

• US 9,830,334 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DoorDash, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Van Hensbergen, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US13/606,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 707827
• 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

Abstract

A request is received from a first client, at a file-server, to use a handle available at the file-server, the handle corresponding to a resource available at a second client. A response message is selected, the selected response being specified in a file-system protocol. The request is multiplexed with the selected response. An identifier is added to the multiplexed response, the identifier associating a set of requests and responses between the first client and the second client concerning the resource. The multiplexed response is sent to the second client. A second response is received from the second client. Responsive to the request from the first client, and further responsive to the second response from the second client, a third response is sent to the first client, the third response enabling the client to client resource sharing in the client-server file-system.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for client to client resource sharing in a client-server file-system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first client in the client-server file-system, at a file-server in the client-server file-system, a request to use a handle available at the file-server, the handle corresponding to a resource at a second client in the client-server file-system, wherein the second client is distinct from the first client, the second client is distinct from the file-server, the second client is distinct from the resource, a protocol to reach the second client is distinct from a protocol of the handle to reach the resource, and the file-server file-system does not include the resource;

selecting a response message, forming a selected response, to send to the second client, the selected response being specified in a file-system protocol established between the second client and the file-server, wherein a connection established between the second client and the server allows a normal flow of messages and a reverse flow of messages, and where the server sending the selected response to the second client is according to the normal flow of messages;

multiplexing the request from the first client with the selected response, forming a multiplexed response to the second client;

adding an identifier to the multiplexed response directed to the second client, the identifier associating a set of requests and responses between the first client and the second client concerning the resource;

sending the multiplexed response to the second client;

receiving, responsive to the multiplexed response, a second response from the second client; and

sending, responsive to the request from the first client, and further responsive to the second response from the second client, a third response to the first client, the third response enabling the client to client resource sharing in the client-server file-system.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the file-server cannot initiate a connection with a client in the client-server file-system, wherein each of the first client and the second client initiates a first and a second connection respectively with the file-server, and wherein the first client cannot establish a direct connection with the second client in the client-server file-system, further comprising:

receiving a post message from the second client to post the handle at the file-server.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the post message is an export of a part of a file-system namespace of the second client.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request from the first client conforms to a different file-system protocol, wherein the multiplexing comprises:

modifying the request from the different file-system protocol to conform the file-system protocol, to form a modified request from the first client; and

combining the modified request from the first client with the selected response.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating the identifier.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the creating occurs responsive to the receiving the request to use the handle from the first client.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second response forms the reverse flow between the second client and the file-server, and wherein the reverse flow utilizes the connection already established between the second client and the file-server according to the file-system protocol.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sending the third response allows the first client to use the resource of the second client.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sending the third response declines a use of the resource of the second client by the first client.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the third response to the first client conforms to a different file-system protocol, wherein the sending the third response further comprises:

modifying the second response from the file-system protocol to conform the different file-system protocol, forming the third response.

11. A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage device including computer usable code for client to client resource sharing in a client-server file-system, the computer usable code comprising:

computer usable code for receiving, from a first client in the client-server file-system, at a file-server in the client-server file-system, a request to use a handle available at the file-server, the handle corresponding to a resource at a second client in the client-server file-system, wherein the second client is distinct from the first client, the second client is distinct from the file-server, the second client is distinct from the resource, a protocol to reach the second client is distinct from a protocol of the handle to reach the resource, and the file-server file-system does not include the resource;

computer usable code for selecting a response message, forming a selected response, to send to the second client, the selected response being specified in a file-system protocol established between the second client and the file-server, wherein a connection established between the second client and the server allows a normal flow of messages and a reverse flow of messages, and where the server sending the selected response to the second client is according to the normal flow of messages;

computer usable code for multiplexing the request from the first client with the selected response, forming a multiplexed response to the second client;

computer usable code for adding an identifier to the multiplexed response directed to the second client, the identifier associating a set of requests and responses between the first client and the second client concerning the resource;

computer usable code for sending the multiplexed response to the second client;

computer usable code for receiving, responsive to the multiplexed response, a second response from the second client; and

computer usable code for sending, responsive to the request from the first client, and further responsive to the second response from the second client, a third response to the first client, the third response enabling the client to client resource sharing in the client-server file-system.

12. The computer usable program product of claim 11, wherein the file-server cannot initiate a connection with a client in the client-server file-system, wherein each of the first client and the second client initiates a first and a second connection respectively with the file-server, and wherein the first client cannot establish a direct connection with the second client in the client-server file-system, further comprising:

computer usable code for receiving a post message from the second client to post the handle at the file-server.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 12, wherein the post message is an export of a part of a file-system namespace of the second client.

14. The computer usable program product of claim 11, wherein the request from the first client conforms to a different file-system protocol, wherein the multiplexing comprises:

computer usable code for modifying the request from the different file-system protocol to conform the file-system protocol, to form a modified request from the first client; and

computer usable code for combining the modified request from the first client with the selected response.

15. The computer usable program product of claim 11, further comprising:

computer usable code for creating the identifier.

16. The computer usable program product of claim 15, wherein the creating occurs responsive to the receiving the request to use the handle from the first client.

17. The computer usable program product of claim 11, wherein the second response forms the reverse flow between the second client and the file-server, and wherein the reverse flow utilizes the connection already established between the second client and the file-server according to the file-system protocol.

18. The computer usable program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage device in a data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is transferred over a network from a remote data processing system.

19. The computer usable program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage device in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage device associated with the remote data processing system.

20. A data processing system for client to client resource sharing in a client-server file-system, the data processing system comprising:

a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises;

computer usable code for receiving, from a first client in the client-server file-system, at a file-server in the client-server file-system, a request to use a handle available at the file-server, the handle corresponding to a resource at a second client in the client-server file-system, wherein the second client is distinct from the first client, the second client is distinct from the file-server, the second client is distinct from the resource, a protocol to reach the second client is distinct from a protocol of the handle to reach the resource, and the file-server file-system does not include the resource;

computer usable code for selecting a response message, forming a selected response, to send to the second client, the selected response being specified in a file-system protocol established between the second client and the file-server, wherein a connection established between the second client and the server allows a normal flow of messages and a reverse flow of messages, and where the server sending the selected response to the second client is according to the normal flow of messages;

computer usable code for multiplexing the request from the first client with the selected response, forming a multiplexed response to the second client;

computer usable code for adding an identifier to the multiplexed response directed to the second client, the identifier associating a set of requests and responses between the first client and the second client concerning the resource;

computer usable code for sending the multiplexed response to the second client;

computer usable code for receiving, responsive to the multiplexed response, a second response from the second client; and

computer usable code for sending, responsive to the request from the first client, and further responsive to the second response from the second client, a third response to the first client, the third response enabling the client to client resource sharing in the client-server file-system.