Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses for providing remote client access to exported file systems

Abstract

Remote clients may access remotely exported file systems using a remote token manager that provides communication among a plurality of caching file servers. In response to a client request for file system access, a program is invoked to determine whether the request relates to a locally exported file system exported by a local caching file server or a remotely exported file system exported by a remote caching file server. If the request relates to a locally exported file system, a local token manager is invoked to obtain a token granting access permission to the locally exported file system. If the request relates to a remotely exported file system, a remote token manager is invoked to communicate with a local access routine in the remote caching file server to obtain a token granting access permission for the remotely exported file system.