公开(公告)号：WO2003105026A1

公开(公告)日：2003-12-18

申请号：PCT/US2003/017497

申请日：2003-06-03

Applicant: NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.

Inventor： HITZ, David ,  EDWARDS, John ,  LEWIS, Blake

IPC: G06F17/30

CPC classification number: G06F17/30067 ,  G06F2201/84 ,  Y10S707/99931 ,  Y10S707/99938 ,  Y10S707/99952 ,  Y10S707/99953

Abstract: Maintenance of plural active file systems (100), wherein each of the active file systems initially access data (120) with another of the active file systems, and wherein changes made to each of the active file systems are not reflected in other active file systems. When a second active file system is created based on a first active file system, the first active file system and the second active file system initially share data. When changes are made to the first active file system, modified data is recorded in the first active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system. When changes are made to the second active file system, modified data is recorded in the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the first active file system. Also, creation of the plural active file systems.

Abstract translation: 维护多个活动文件系统（100），其中每个活动文件系统最初与另一个活动文件系统访问数据（120），并且其中对每个活动文件系统所做的更改不会反映在其他活动文件系统 。 当基于第一活动文件系统创建第二活动文件系统时，第一活动文件系统和第二活动文件系统最初共享数据。 当对第一活动文件系统进行改变时，修改的数据在不与第二活动文件系统共享的位置处不与第二活动文件系统共享的位置记录在第一活动文件系统中。 当对第二活动文件系统进行改变时，修改的数据被记录在不与第一活动文件系统共享的位置的第二活动文件系统中。 另外，创建多个活动文件系统。

公开(公告)号：EP1311940B1

公开(公告)日：2007-06-20

申请号：EP01964151.3

申请日：2001-08-17

Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.

Inventor： DOUCETTE, Douglas, P. ,  LEWIS, Blake ,  EDWARDS, John, K.

IPC: G06F3/06

CPC classification number: G06F3/0605 ,  G06F3/0608 ,  G06F3/0631 ,  G06F3/0643 ,  G06F3/0644 ,  G06F3/0689 ,  G06F17/30067 ,  Y10S707/99943 ,  Y10S707/99952 ,  Y10S707/99953 ,  Y10S707/99956

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for improving data access of a reliable file system. In a first aspect of the invention, the file system determines the relative vacancy of a collection of storage blocks, herein called an 'allocation area'. This is accomplished by recording an array of binary numbers. Each binary number in the array describes the vacancy of a collection of storage blocks. The file system examines these binary numbers when attempting to record file blocks in relatively contiguous areas on a storage medium, such as a hard disk. When a request to write to disk occurs, the system determines the average vacancy of all the allocation areas and queries the allocation areas for individual vacancy rates such as sequentially. The system preferably writes file blocks to the allocation areas that are above a threshold related to the average storage block vacancy of the file system. If the file in the request to write is larger than the selected allocation area, the next allocation area above the threshold is preferably used to write the remaining blocks of the file.

公开(公告)号：EP1311949B1

公开(公告)日：2011-03-30

申请号：EP01965976.2

申请日：2001-08-17

Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.

Inventor： LEWIS, Blake ,  EDWARDS, John, K. ,  VISWANATHAN, Srinivasan

IPC: G06F11/14

CPC classification number: G06F11/14 ,  G06F11/1435 ,  G06F2201/84 ,  Y10S707/99931 ,  Y10S707/99956

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for creating a snapshot of a file system. In a first aspect of the invention, a 'copy-on-write' mechanism is used. An effective snapshot mechanism must be efficient both in its use of storage space and in the time needed to create it because file systems are often large. The snapshot uses the same blocks as the active file system until the active file system is modified. Whenever a modification occurs, the modified data is copied to a new block and the old data is saved (henceforth called 'copy-on-write'. In this way, the snapshot only uses space where it differs from the active file system, and the amount of work required to create the snapshot is small. In a second aspect of the invention, a record of which blocks are being used by the snapshot is included in the snapshot itself, allowing effectively instantaneous snapshot creation and deletion.

公开(公告)号：EP1535198B1

公开(公告)日：2010-08-04

申请号：EP03757323.5

申请日：2003-06-03

Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.

Inventor： HITZ, David ,  EDWARDS, John ,  LEWIS, Blake

IPC: G06F17/30

CPC classification number: G06F17/30067 ,  G06F2201/84 ,  Y10S707/99931 ,  Y10S707/99938 ,  Y10S707/99952 ,  Y10S707/99953

Abstract: Maintenance of plural active file systems (100), wherein each of the active file systems initially access data (120) with another of the active file systems, and wherein changes made to each of the active file systems are not reflected in other active file systems. When a second active file system is created based on a first active file system, the first active file system and the second active file system initially share data. When changes are made to the first active file system, modified data is recorded in the first active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system. When changes are made to the second active file system, modified data is recorded in the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the first active file system. Also, creation of the plural active file systems.

公开(公告)号：EP1535198A1

公开(公告)日：2005-06-01

申请号：EP03757323.5

申请日：2003-06-03

Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.

Inventor： HITZ, David ,  EDWARDS, John ,  LEWIS, Blake

IPC: G06F17/30

CPC classification number: G06F17/30067 ,  G06F2201/84 ,  Y10S707/99931 ,  Y10S707/99938 ,  Y10S707/99952 ,  Y10S707/99953

Abstract: Maintenance of plural active file systems (100), wherein each of the active file systems initially access data (120) with another of the active file systems, and wherein changes made to each of the active file systems are not reflected in other active file systems. When a second active file system is created based on a first active file system, the first active file system and the second active file system initially share data. When changes are made to the first active file system, modified data is recorded in the first active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the second active file system. When changes are made to the second active file system, modified data is recorded in the second active file system in a location that is not shared with the first active file system. Also, creation of the plural active file systems.

公开(公告)号：EP1311949A2

公开(公告)日：2003-05-21

申请号：EP01965976.2

申请日：2001-08-17

Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.

Inventor： LEWIS, Blake ,  EDWARDS, John, K. ,  VISWANATHAN, Srinivasan

IPC: G06F11/14

CPC classification number: G06F11/14 ,  G06F11/1435 ,  G06F2201/84 ,  Y10S707/99931 ,  Y10S707/99956

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for creating a snapshot of a file system. In a first aspect of the invention, a 'copy-on-write' mechanism is used. An effective snapshot mechanism must be efficient both in its use of storage space and in the time needed to create it because file systems are often large. The snapshot uses the same blocks as the active file system until the active file system is modified. Whenever a modification occurs, the modified data is copied to a new block and the old data is saved (henceforth called 'copy-on-write'. In this way, the snapshot only uses space where it differs from the active file system, and the amount of work required to create the snapshot is small. In a second aspect of the invention, a record of which blocks are being used by the snapshot is included in the snapshot itself, allowing effectively instantaneous snapshot creation and deletion.

公开(公告)号：EP1311940A2

公开(公告)日：2003-05-21

申请号：EP01964151.3

申请日：2001-08-17

Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.

Inventor： DOUCETTE, Douglas, P. ,  LEWIS, Blake ,  EDWARDS, John, K.

IPC: G06F3/06

CPC classification number: G06F3/0605 ,  G06F3/0608 ,  G06F3/0631 ,  G06F3/0643 ,  G06F3/0644 ,  G06F3/0689 ,  G06F17/30067 ,  Y10S707/99943 ,  Y10S707/99952 ,  Y10S707/99953 ,  Y10S707/99956

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for improving data access of a reliable file system. In a first aspect of the invention, the file system determines the relative vacancy of a collection of storage blocks, herein called an 'allocation area'. This is accomplished by recording an array of binary numbers. Each binary number in the array describes the vacancy of a collection of storage blocks. The file system examines these binary numbers when attempting to record file blocks in relatively contiguous areas on a storage medium, such as a hard disk. When a request to write to disk occurs, the system determines the average vacancy of all the allocation areas and queries the allocation areas for individual vacancy rates such as sequentially. The system preferably writes file blocks to the allocation areas that are above a threshold related to the average storage block vacancy of the file system. If the file in the request to write is larger than the selected allocation area, the next allocation area above the threshold is preferably used to write the remaining blocks of the file.