Methods and Apparatus for Distributed Data Storage

摘要

A distributed heterogeneous or homogeneous file storage system divides logical responsibility for data from actual control of the data by using separate file and storage managers. Each file manager provides access to stored files and stores metadata associated with each of the files for which it is responsible. A file manager control component allocates responsibilities among file managers, assigns management responsibilities for individual files, and maintains a record of which files are assigned to each manager. Each storage manager is responsible for managing storage of files on data storage devices and maintains a record of the location of each stored file. A storage manager control component allocates responsibilities among storage managers, assigns responsibilities for individual files, and maintains a record of which files and storage devices are assigned to each manager. A client provides user access, initiates actions within the system, and implements a redundant data recovery and reconstruction scheme.

主权项

1. A dynamically scalable redundant distributed storage system, the storage system having a plurality of components, the components comprising:
a plurality of file managers, each file manager having responsibility for providing access to a group of stored files or data blocks; a file manager control component adapted for allocating individual responsibilities among each of the plurality of file managers; a plurality of storage managers, each storage manager having responsibility for managing the storage of files and data blocks on one or more data storage devices; and at least one client adapted to provide user access to the storage system, the client being configured to initiate actions within the storage system; wherein the distributed storage system has no single point of failure.