METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STORING DATA OBJECTS USING A SMALL OBJECT DATA STREAM

摘要

A storage area stores a plurality of objects of varying sizes. A directory structure stored in the storage area references streams of data. A small object stream is allocated for storing multiple objects not larger than a small object size. The directory structure refers to the small object stream using a single reference. The small object stream stores each object not larger than the small object size. Each object larger than the small object size has a stream allocated to it, and the directory structure refers to the allocated stream. Alternatively, a small object directory entry in the directory structure can store small objects until the small object directory entry runs out of storage, at which point a small object stream is used. A data structure for a file system can include a small object data stream, other data streams, and a directory structure.