Metadata based file switch and switched file system
US7383288B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 2, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/329
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided in a computer network to decouple client computers from file servers, by placing a transparent network node, also termed a file switch or file switch computer, between the client computers and the file servers. Usage of such a file switch allows reduced latency in file transfers, as well as scalable mirroring, striping, spillover, and other features. The file switch preferably includes at least one processing unit for executing computer programs, at least one port for exchanging information with the file servers and client computers, and a file aggregation module. The file aggregation module includes computer programs for determining a set of file servers from the group of file servers for storing a specified user file, creating a metadata file storing information identifying the set of file servers for storing the user file; and updating directory structures on the set of file servers to indicate storage of the user file.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.