Abstract: A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.

Abstract: A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.

Abstract: Presented is a system and a method for load balancing multiple globally-dispersed servers based on client-centric performance criteria. The infrastructure of the system includes load balancing domain name servers (DNS-LBs) deployed in close physical proximity to the Internet service providers' points of presence. The DNS-LBs are then able to monitor the performance of the servers from a location close to the clients, which allows the DNS-LBs to select a server that will yield the best performance from that location for the client. A second level of the infrastructure utilizes domain name servers (DNS-Bs) that are deployed on the Internet backbones and regional provides. The authoritative domain name servers (DNS-As) for the servers to be load balanced refer all name queries to these DNS-Bs. The DNS-Bs then refer the queries to one of the DNS-LBs based on a mapping of the DNS-ISP address to its physically proximate DNS-LB.

Abstract: A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.

Abstract: A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.

Abstract: A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.

Abstract: A system and method for expediting the replication of at least one specified object to a replica in a distributed computer system. A source object of a source replica determines that it has an urgent change to propagate through the distributed system, and informs a replication facility at the source replica of the urgent change. The facility extracts, or is provided with, the change information from that object, and the source replica communicates information representative of the change to a destination replica. A replication facility at the destination replica provides the change information to a destination replica object, which uses the information to make itself consistent with the source replica object.

Abstract: A system and method of efficiently replicating data structures in a distributed system of replicas. Each replica in the distributed system maintains a cursor indicative of the extent to which other replicas in the system are consistent with one another. By examining the information in its cursor, a destination replica requesting replication from a source replica is able to determine the extent to which it has been made consistent with that source replica via indirect paths, thus potentially improving the starting point of replication. The source replica similarly examines its cursor to potentially improve the starting point of replication with respect to the starting point requested by the destination replica. In this manner, redundant information transmitted from a source replica when replicating a destination replica is reduced.

Abstract: Logon certificates are provided to support disconnected operation within the distributed system. Each logon certificate is a secure package holding credentials information sufficient to establish the identity and rights and privileges for a user/machine in a domain that is not their home domain. When a user/machine attempts to connect to the system at a domain other than the home domain of the user/machine, the user/machine presents a logon certificate that evidences his credentials. The domain where the user/machine attempts to connect to the system, decrypts and unseals the secure package as required to obtain the credentials information contained therein. If the user/machine has sufficient credentials, the user/machine is permitted to connect to the system. If the user/machine lacks sufficient credentials, the user/machine is not permitted to connect to the system.

Abstract: A network directory and naming service include fields for identifying instances of network resources and other objects by both logical and topological grouping. This combination of information facilitates automated efficient decision making with regard to replication of resources and updating the replicas in response to changes. The combination of logical and topological identification for resources also facilitates selection of a close replica in instances where a client requests access to a resource, such as a server, for which communicatively local and remote instances exist.

Abstract: A distributed file system uses objects to model the behavior of components of the distributed file system. Each object has an associated logical path name and physical address. An aggregation of all the logical path names comprises a distributed name space which can be logically partitioned into domains. Each domain includes a domain folder object which maps logical path names of objects in the domain containing the domain folder object, into addresses in the distributed system where the objects are stored. The addresses of the objects are used to access the objects in order to retrieve information from the distributed system.

Abstract: Logon certificates are provided to support disconnected operation within the distributed system. Each logon certificate is a secure package holding credentials information sufficient to establish the identity and rights and privileges for a user/machine in a domain that is not their home domain. When a user/machine attempts to connect to the system at a domain other than the home domain of the user/machine, the user/machine presents a logon certificate that evidences his credentials. The domain where the user/machine attempts to connect to the system, decrypts and unseals the secure package as required to obtain the credentials information contained therein. If the user/machine has sufficient credentials, the user/machine is permitted to connect to the system. If the user/machine lacks sufficient credentials, the user/machine is not permitted to connect to the system.

Abstract: A distributed file system uses objects to model the behavior of components of the distributed file system. Each object has an associated logical path name and physical address. An aggregation of all the logical path names comprises a distributed name space which can be logically partitioned into domains. Each domain includes a domain folder object which maps logical path names of objects in the domain containing the domain folder object, into addresses in the distributed system where the objects are stored. The addresses of the objects are used to access the objects in order to retrieve information from the distributed system.

Abstract: A replication facility provides for the replication of files or portions of files in a distributed environment. The replication facility is able to replicate any subtree within a distributed namespace of the distributed environment. The replication facility provides multi-mastered, weakly consistent replication. The replication facility supports both public replication and private replication.

Abstract: A system provides support for the use of summary catalog data structures. In particular, the system defines such summary catalogs as data structures and provides standardized methods for operating on the data structures. The summary catalogs provide a convenient and highly available mechanism for obtaining information regarding files in the system. The summary catalogs are closely tied to queries in that the summary catalogs store query results. The summary catalogs may be encapsulated into objects that hold selected properties that are derived from other objects in a query or may be formed by other mechanisms. Copies of a summary catalog may be kept consistent using replication that propagates changes. In addition, consistency of summary catalogs with the source objects from which they originated may be maintained.