Abstract: A non-transitory computer storage medium stores a set of instructions that, when loaded into and running in a plurality of logical computer systems, establishes a software-defined network attachable storage system. The storage system includes first and second sets of logical computer systems (which may be virtual computer systems) as namespace servers and dataspace servers respectively.

Abstract: A method, for handling partially inconsistent states among members of a cluster in an erratic storage network that responds to requests from a client, includes assigning a unique commit identifier corresponding to each successive modification of state of the cluster when an update request has been successfully completed and correlating an incoming request to a given member of the cluster with any commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request. The method further includes detecting, on the incoming request to the given member of the cluster, whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member, and processing the incoming request based on whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member. Operation of the members can be asynchronous.

Abstract: A method for establishing a software-defined network attachable storage system includes establishing first and second sets of logical computer systems (which may be virtual computer systems) as namespace servers and dataspace servers respectively. Each namespace server is configured: (a) to store, in its memory, filesystem metadata, the metadata including file and directory names and information on where user data associated with the file and directory names resides, and to store in its storage system a dynamically updated copy of the filesystem metadata; and (b) to process storage system pathname requests, for a predetermined subset of the namespace, from at least one requesting client computer and to return in response to each request a handle for use by the requesting client computer; and (ii) each dataspace server is configured to store and retrieve user data in its storage system based on handles determined by the namespace servers.

Abstract: A method, for handling partially inconsistent states among members of a cluster in an erratic storage network that responds to requests from a client, includes assigning a unique commit identifier corresponding to each successive modification of state of the cluster when an update request has been successfully completed and correlating an incoming request to a given member of the cluster with any commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request. The method further includes detecting, on the incoming request to the given member of the cluster, whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member, and processing the incoming request based on whether the commit identifiers necessary to satisfy the request have been applied to the given member. Operation of the members can be asynchronous.

Abstract: A method for establishing a software-defined network attachable storage system includes establishing first and second sets of logical computer systems (which may be virtual computer systems) as namespace servers and dataspace servers respectively. Each namespace server is configured: (a) to store, in its memory, filesystem metadata, the metadata including file and directory names and information on where user data associated with the file and directory names resides, and to store in its storage system a dynamically updated copy of the filesystem metadata; and (b) to process storage system pathname requests, for a predetermined subset of the namespace, from at least one requesting client computer and to return in response to each request a handle for use by the requesting client computer; and (ii) each dataspace server is configured to store and retrieve user data in its storage system based on handles determined by the namespace servers.

Abstract: A method for establishing a software-defined network attachable storage system includes establishing first and second sets of logical computer systems (which may be virtual computer systems) as namespace servers and dataspace servers respectively. Each namespace server is configured: (a) to store, in its memory, filesystem metadata, the metadata including file and directory names and information on where user data associated with the file and directory names resides, and to store in its storage system a dynamically updated copy of the filesystem metadata; and (b) to process storage system pathname requests, for a predetermined subset of the namespace, from at least one requesting client computer and to return in response to each request a handle for use by the requesting client computer; and (ii) each dataspace server is configured to store and retrieve user data in its storage system based on handles determined by the namespace servers.