Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods

摘要

Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods include clients that determine a target storage provider to contact for a particular storage transaction based on a pathname provided by the filesystem and a predetermined scheme such as a hash function applied to a portion of the pathname. Servers use the same scheme to determine where to store relevant file information so that the clients can locate the file information. The target storage provider may store the file itself and/or may store metadata that identifies one or more other storage providers where the file is stored. A file may be replicated in multiple storage providers, and the metadata may include a list of storage providers from which the clients can select (e.g., randomly) in order to access the file.

主权项

1. A storage system comprising:
a client; and a storage provider in communication the client over a communication network, the storage provider including a first set of storage nodes, each storage node of the first set managed by a different storage server, wherein the file operation requests are transmitted to the first set of storages nodes in the storage provider using a multicast address associated with the first set, wherein at least a portion of metadata and file data stored on the first set of storage nodes is synchronized across two or more storage nodes of the first set; and wherein the storage provider is configured to, in response to a file operation request received from the client: (i) perform initial processing by each storage node of the first set of storage nodes in order to determine which storage node of the first set of storage nodes should be designated to process the file operation request; and (ii) process the file operation request via the designated node.