Sparse multi-component files
US7194579B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1076
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A file is striped across multiple filers, file servers or other devices, to create a sparsely striped multi-component file. Each filer stores one sparse component. In particular, each component physically stores only those stripes allocated to that component. The other stripes are represented as holes. Thus, instead of contiguously packing each component's stripes at the block level, each component is a file having the same logical structure. A component of a sparsely striped multi-component file can be easily converted to a mirror by filling in its holes. Similarly, a mirror can be easily converted to one component of a sparsely striped multi-component file by removing or ignoring it unallocated stripes. In either case, the layout or logical of the component does not need to be reconfigured.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.