File system query and method of use
First Claim
1. A method of generating a query result identifying a set of files in a file system stored on a non transitory computer readable medium having a shared file attribute characteristic in response to a file system query includes the step of:
- decoding the file system query to identify the plurality of query components associated with the shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call;
filtering file system data using the plurality of query components to provide the query result wherein the filtered file system data includes one or more files that matches all the query components of the file system query; and
sending the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved policy enforcement architecture includes several components that improve the performance of policy enforcement in a hierarchical storage environment. A File System Query instruction permits a richer set of queries to be expressed by a policy engine, thereby permitting more complex policies to be implemented with ease. The File System result is generated at the file server, and only files of interest are forwarded to the policy engine. The file system query advantageously may be applied against a pre-generated index having one more characterizing attributes to further reduce the processing required to retrieve policy data. An Index Build instruction, added to a programming interface, allows a policy engine generate the characterizing indices in advance of use. Index maintenance techniques maintain consistency between the index and the file system to ensure that the policy can be enforced using accurate file information.
68 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of generating a query result identifying a set of files in a file system stored on a non transitory computer readable medium having a shared file attribute characteristic in response to a file system query includes the step of:
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decoding the file system query to identify the plurality of query components associated with the shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call; filtering file system data using the plurality of query components to provide the query result wherein the filtered file system data includes one or more files that matches all the query components of the file system query; and sending the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of generating a query result identifying a set of files in a file system stored on a non transitory computer readable medium having a shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols in response to a file system query includes the step of:
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decoding the file system query to identify the shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file system query includes one or more query components; identifying a pre-generated index associated with the shared file attribute characteristic wherein the pre-generated index includes one or more files sharing the attribute characteristic wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call; responding to the file system query using the identified pre-generated index to generate a query response wherein the query response includes one or more files that matches all the query components of the file system query; and sending the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising computer-readable memory including instructions encoded thereon for generating a query result identifying a set of files having a shared file attribute characteristic in response to a file system query includes:
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decode logic for decoding the file system query to identify the plurality of query components associated with the shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call; a filter for filtering the file system data using the plurality of query components to provide the query result wherein the filtered file system data includes one or more files that matches all the query components of the file system query; and a logic for sending the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An apparatus comprising computer-readable memory including instructions encoded thereon for generating a query result identifying a set of files having a shared file attribute characteristic in response to a file system query includes the step of:
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logic for decoding the file system query to identify the shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file system query includes one or more query components; an index associated with shared file attribute characteristic, the index storing pointers to files sharing the attribute characteristic wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call; means for returning a query result using the index wherein the query result includes one or more files that matches all the query components of the file system query; and means for sending the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An application programming interface, stored in a computer readable medium of a file server, includes:
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program code operable when executed in response to a file system query request to; decode the file system query into a plurality of query components, each query component corresponding to one or more shared file attribute characteristics related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call; generate a query result including identifiers of files in the file system that share the file attribute characteristics associated with the query components wherein the query result includes one or more files that matches all the query components of the file system query; and send the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An application programming interface, stored in a computer readable medium of a file server, includes:
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program code operable when executed in response to a file system query to; decode the file system query to obtain an shared file attribute characteristic related to one or more file system access protocols wherein the file system query includes one or more query components wherein the file attribute related to one or more file system access protocol can be queried in a single call; generate a query result including identifiers of files a of the file system that share the attribute characteristic, the query generated using at least one pre-generated index associated with the attribute characteristic wherein the pre-generated index includes one or more files sharing the attribute characteristic; and send the query result to a policy engine wherein the policy engine evaluates a metadata of the file system including the shared file attributes characteristic and based on the evaluation with regard to the criteria associated with a policy migrates the files in a file system from one storage device to another to enforce the policy. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification