System and method for maintaining a file change log within a distributed file system

摘要

Various methods and systems for implementing a file change log in a distributed file system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method involves operating a distributed file system that presents a namespace and maintaining a file change log for the namespace. Operating the distributed file system involves executing an instance of a file system on each of several nodes. Maintaining the file change log can involve maintaining a single file change log for the namespace. Updates to the single file change log can be handled by a primary node or controlled using a locking mechanism. Alternatively, several private file change logs (e.g., one per node) can be maintained, and these private file change logs can be merged into a single file change log (e.g., by a primary node).

主权项

1. A method comprising:
operating a distributed file system, wherein
the distributed file system is configured to present a plurality of files within a namespace to a client, andthe operating comprises executing an instance of a file system on each of a plurality of nodes; and maintaining a file change log for the namespace, wherein
the file change log stores information identifying each file within the namespace that has been modified within a selected period,the file change log temporally orders a first change initiated at a first node of the plurality of nodes before or after a second change initiated at a second node of the plurality of nodes, wherein the first change and the second change modify one or more existing files within the namespace, andthe distributed file system is configured to provide access to the file change log to an application executed by the client.