Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards configuring a distributed storage system over a network. Master computers and Subordinate computers may separate components of the distributed storage system. Each subordinate computer may perform actions when connected to the network. When the network provides for site-level multicasting, the subordinate computer broadcasts site-level multicast request(s) for a network address of master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When the network supports a local domain name system (DNS) server, the subordinate computer provides a DNS query to the local DNS server to obtain from an external server the network address for the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When then network supports a master computer as a DNS server, the subordinate computer provides the DNS query to the master computer DNS server to obtain from the external server the network address of the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards configuring a distributed storage system over a network. Master computers and Subordinate computers may separate components of the distributed storage system. Each subordinate computer may perform actions when connected to the network. When the network provides for site-level multicasting, the subordinate computer broadcasts site-level multicast request(s) for a network address of master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When the network supports a local domain name system (DNS) server, the subordinate computer provides a DNS query to the local DNS server to obtain from an external server the network address for the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When then network supports a master computer as a DNS server, the subordinate computer provides the DNS query to the master computer DNS server to obtain from the external server the network address of the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards storing data in a storage system. A data controller may obtain a write request and write data from a client computer. A write message may be generated and provided to a data coordinator computer. The data coordinator may communicate the write message to a plurality of L-node computers. The data coordinator may obtain write confirmation messages from the L-node computers that indicate that the write data is stored. If enough write confirmation messages are obtained to indicate that a quorum is reached, the data coordinator may communicate a save confirmation message to the data controller. The data controller may generate a write acknowledgement message based on the save confirmation message provided by the data coordinator. The data controller may provide the write acknowledgement message to the client computer that made the original write request.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards configuring a distributed storage system over a network. Master computers and Subordinate computers may separate components of the distributed storage system. Each subordinate computer may perform actions when connected to the network. When the network provides for site-level multicasting, the subordinate computer broadcasts site-level multicast request(s) for a network address of master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When the network supports a local domain name system (DNS) server, the subordinate computer provides a DNS query to the local DNS server to obtain from an external server the network address for the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When then network supports a master computer as a DNS server, the subordinate computer provides the DNS query to the master computer DNS server to obtain from the external server the network address of the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards cloning files in a distributed file system. In response to a request to create file clones, a file cloning application can be employed to generate file clones based on a source file. The file cloning application can generate a new inode for each new file clone and at least one new shadow store. Data blocks from the source file can be transferred to the shadow store. The transferred data blocks can be replaced with reference blocks that point to the data blocks transferred to the shadow store. Likewise, additional reference blocks pointing to data blocks in the shadow store can be generated for the new file clone inodes. Further, the shadow store can maintain reference counters that track the number of reference blocks pointing to each shadow store block. Also, file clones can be generated based on a point-in-time snapshot of the source file.