Distributed file system and method
US8041735B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/947
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A distributed file system and method distributes file system objects across multiple self-contained volumes, where each volume is owned by a unique file system node. Logical links are used to reference a file system object between volumes. Each file system node includes a relocation directory in which is maintained hard links to locally-stored file system objects that are referenced from another file system node using logical links. Various file system operations that involve multiple volumes are performed without having to place a write lock on more than one volume at a time. Various caching schemes allow the various file system nodes to cache file system object data and metadata.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.