FAULT TOLERANT NFS SERVER SYSTEM AND MIRRORING PROTOCOL

摘要

A network computer system providing for the fault tolerant storage and retrieval of data files includes a client system connected to a data communication network that may source a first data transfer request to said data communication network for the transfer or retrieval of data. A first server system, including first medium for storing data files, is connected to the data communication network so as to be responsive to first data transfer requests. A second server system, including second medium for storing data files is also connected to said data communication network to also be responsive to first data transfer requests. A control protocol, established between the first and second server systems, coordinates an asymmetric response by the first and second server systems to a first data transfer request, such that file data transferred by the client with the first data transfer request is replicated to the first and second storing mediums and such that file data transferred to the client system in response to the first data transfer is non-replicatively provided to the client system by either the first or second server system.