Emc Corporation

Emc IP Holding Company LLC

Isilon Systems, Inc.

David Richards

Robert J Anderson

Aaron Passey

Neal Thomas Fachan

Darren P Schack

Eric Michael Lemar

Peter John Godman

Justin Husted

Gerald T Carter

Scott D Haskin

Implementations are provided herein for non-disruptive upgrade including rollback capabilities for a distributed file system within a cluster of nodes. To continue availability of the file system to external clients during the upgrade process, nodes can be upgraded piecemeal, for example, in one implementation, one node at a time. When a node is undergoing certain stages of the upgrade process, external clients can be directed toward the remaining nodes of the file system that are not currently being upgraded, including already upgraded nodes, to perform client activity. During the upgrade process, a first subset of nodes can be running in an upgraded state while a second subset of nodes can be in a non-upgraded state, both providing access to external clients in a seamless manner. During the upgrade process, an administrator can decide to rollback any upgrades and return the distributed file system to its previous version (e.g., the version of the file system prior to starting the non-disruptive upgrade process). Hooks can be provided prior to, during, and after various stages of the upgrade or rollback process that can allow services of the distributed file system to be notified of certain events of the upgrade process, or execute service specific processes at distinct times during the upgrade process. At the conclusion of an upgrade or rollback process, the distributed file system can enter a committed state that finalizes the process and cements an upgrade or a rollback to a more permanent state.

Non-disruptive upgrade including rollback capabilities for a distributed file system operating within a cluster of nodes

In some embodiments, storage devices, such as a storage drive or a storage node, in an array of storage devices may be reintroduced into the array of storage devices after a period of temporary unavailability without fully rebuilding the entire previously unavailable storage device.

Systems and methods for managing unavailable storage devices

In one embodiment, a user or client device is connected to a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. In one embodiment, the metadata comprises mini-snapshots for directories representing a path from the root of the file system to the root of the snapshot. The mini-snapshots serve as stand-ins for portions of the file system which are not included in the snapshot, but which permit access to the snapshot data in an intuitive way.

Systems and methods for a snapshot of data

In one embodiment, a user or client device is connected to a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. According to one embodiment, the system stores and updates metadata, including a governance list, for each of the files and directories. The governance list provides a representation of the snapshots which govern a file or directory and its descendants.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

David Richards