Hardware and software failover services for a file server
US6625750B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L43/0817
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A file server includes a plurality of stream server computers linking data storage to a data network, and at least two controller servers for controlling the stream server computers. The controller servers are programmed so that at a given time one of the controller servers is active in controlling the stream server computers, and another of the controller servers is inactive. The inactive controller server is programmed to respond automatically to a failure of the active controller server by becoming active. For example, each of the controller servers has a respective flag for indicating whether or not the controller server is active. Each controller server is programmed so that, upon booting, it will read the flag of the other stream server, and if the flag of the other controller server indicates that the other controller server is active, then the controller server becomes inactive. Otherwise, the stream server assumes an active or inactive state based on a predetermined arbitration method. The active controller server also reports failure conditions to a customer service center, monitors the inactive controller server to ensure that the inactive controller server is in a state…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.