Abstract: In a network of computer nodes, a directory service provides both the physical location of directory information around the network and the directory information itself in a single data structure. This single data structure is distributed throughout the network, and continuously redistributed, so as to create a directory service that is both more flexible, and more robust, than prior art directory services.

Abstract: Distributed shared memory systems and processes that can connect into each node of a computer network to encapsulate the memory management operations of the connected nodes and to provide thereby an abstraction of a shared virtual memory that can span across each node of the network and that optionally spans across each memory device connected to the computer network. Accordingly, each node on the network having the distributed shared memory system of the invention can access the shared memory.

Abstract: A shared client-side Web cache is provided by implementing a file system shared between nodes. Each browser application stores cached data in files stored in a globally addressable data store. Since the file system is a shared one, the client-side Web caches are also shared.

Abstract: In a network of computer nodes, a structured storage system interfaces to a globally addressable memory system that provides persistent storage of data. The globally addressable memory system may be a distributed shared memory (DSM) system. A control program resident on each network node can direct the memory system to map file and directory data into the shared memory space. The memory system can include functionality to share data, coherently replicate data, and create log-based transaction data to allow for recovery. In one embodiment, the memory system provides memory device services to the data control program. These services can include read, write, allocate, flush, or any other similar or additional service suitable for providing low level control of a memory storage device.

Abstract: A network of computer node interface to globally addressable memory system that provides persistent storage of data exchange periodic connectivity information. The exchanged connectivity information provides information regarding node failure to other nodes in the system, and the surviving nodes use the information to determine which node, if any, has ceased functioning. Various processes are used to recover the portion of the global address space for which the failed node was responsible, including RAM directory, disk directory, or file system information. Additionally, nodes may be subdivided into groups and connectivity information is exchanged between nodes belonging to a group. Each group then exchanges group-wise connectivity information and failures may be recovered.