Netapp, Inc.

Network Appliance, Inc.

Jeffrey Silberman

Arthur F Lent

Don Bolinger

A method and apparatus for operating a plurality of computers is disclosed. A file is maintained on a selected computer of the plurality of computers. An open request for the file is sent by a first computer of the plurality of computers to the selected computer, the open request including a first token. The file is opened for the first computer in response to the open request. An open request is sent for the file by a second computer to the selected computer, the open request including a second token. The first token is compared with the second token. If the first token and the second token match, opening the file for the second computer, and if the first token and the second token do not match, not opening the file for the second computer.

Mechanism for controlled sharing of files in a clustered application environment

A mechanism for controlled sharing of files by clustered applications is provided. The mechanism expands a distributed file access protocol, such as the direct access file system protocol, by including an open with share token command and an open_downgrade operation to adjust the access and deny levels for a given resource.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey Silberman