Virtual filer and ip space based it configuration transitioning framework

Abstract

A system and method enables gradual transitioning of a server, such as a filer, to a new security domain and/or IP address scheme. A single physical platform may comprise multiple logical servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), that simultaneously participate in different security domains and IP address schemes. Each logical server is allocated its own set of storage resources, such as volumes and qtrees, and network resources, such as network addresses. Additionally, a common set of storage resources may store a data set that is accessible to logical servers that participate in the different security domains and/or IP address schemes. Therefore, the server can transition from an old security domain to a new, e.g., upgraded, security domain, by gradually phasing out file access requests sent to a logical server in the old domain and redirecting those requests to a logical server in the new security domain. Similarly, the server can transition from an old IP address scheme to a new IP address scheme by gradually redirecting file access requests from one logical server to another. Since the invention enables multiple logical servers to access the server's data set, clients do not experience any downtime in service during the server's transition to a new security domain and/or IP address scheme.