Nasuni Corporation

Kevin William Baughman

David M Shaw

Robert S Mason, Jr

Stephen A Fridella

Christopher S Lacasse

Matthew M McDonald

Russell Andrew Neufeld

Akshay K Saxena

Robert F Mason

Jon Vincent

Robert M Mason, Jr

A versioned file system comprising network accessible storage is provided. Aspects of the system include globally locking files or groups of files so as to better control the stored files in the file system and to avoid problems associated with simultaneous remote access or conflicting multiple access requests for the same files. A method for operating, creating and using the global locks is also disclosed. A multiprotocol global lock can be provided for filing nodes that have multiple network protocols for generating local lock requests.

Versioned file system with global lock

A versioned file storage system (VFS) and method for operating and using the same is disclosed. In an aspect, a mechanism is provided wherein a first VFS interface unit coupling the VFS to a local data storage system is replaced with a second VFS interface unit in a coordinated procedure for taking the first unit offline, making a reliable snapshot of its data and cache structure in the VFS, and loading the same data and cache structure into the second VFS interface brought online. The first and second VFS interfaces transfer the necessary data to achieve the switch through respective side-loading daemons running in each interface. Clients in the local data storage system experience minimal interruption of services in the VFS.

Systems and methods for restoring an interface to a global file system

A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. Each structured data representation corresponds to a version, and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a borrow window. When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time, i.e., to perform a 'restore,' it is only required to walk a single structured data representation. During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is pulled back from the cloud when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system is restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A fast restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a borrow window of the version from which the system is restoring.

Versioned file system with fast restore

A method of data sharing among multiple entities is provided. Each entity exports to a data store a structured data representation comprising a versioned file system local to that entity. The method begins by forming a sharing group that includes two or more entities. Sharing of the structured data representations by members of the sharing group is enabled. The filers use a single distributed lock to protect each version of the file system. This lock is managed to allow each filer access to the shared file system volume to create its new version. To share a fully-versioned file system, asynchronous updates at each of the filers is permitted, and each node is then allowed to 'push' its individual changes to the store to form the next version of the file system. A mechanism also may be used to reduce the period during which filers in the group operate under lock.

Versioned file system with sharing

A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations, such as XML. Each structured data representation corresponds to a 'version,' and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects rooted at a root directory manifest. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a 'borrow window.' When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time (or, more generally, a given state), i.e., to perform a &#x201c;restore,&#x201d; it is only required to walk (use) a single structured data representation (a tree). During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is then pulled back from the cloud if/when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system (or any portion thereof) can be restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A &#x201c;fast&#x201d; restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a &#x201c;borrow window&#x201d; of the version from which the system is restoring. A version is pruned from the versioned file system by deleting all objects in the tree (associated with the version) that, at the time of pruning: (i) are not being lent to any other version within the borrow window of the version being pruned, and (ii) are not referenced in any other version whose borrow window is sufficiently large enough such that an object in the version could have been restored from that other version.

Versioned file system with pruning

A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations, such as XML. Each structured data representation corresponds to a 'version,' and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects rooted at a root directory manifest. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a 'borrow window.' When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time (or, more generally, a given state), i.e., to perform a &#x201c;restore,&#x201d; it is only required to walk (use) a single structured data representation (a tree). During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is then pulled back from the cloud if/when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system (or any portion thereof) can be restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A &#x201c;fast&#x201d; restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a &#x201c;borrow window&#x201d; of the version from which the system is restoring.

Growing community of inventors

Natick, MA, United States of America

Kevin William Baughman