Abstract: In a distributed object-based storage system that includes a plurality of object storage devices and one or more clients that access distributed, object-based files from the object storage devices, each of the files being comprised of a plurality of object components residing on different object storage device, systems and methods that use pointers stored as object attributes for file analysis and monitoring.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering from an I/O error in a distributed object-based storage system that includes a plurality of object storage devices for storing object components, a manager coupled to each of the object storage devices, wherein the object storage devices coordinate with the file manager, and one or more clients that access and store distributed, object-based files on the object storage devices. A client attempts to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of: a data read operation from an object storage device, a data write operation to an object storage device, a set attribute operation to an object storage device, a get attribute operation from an object storage device and a create object operation to an object storage device. Upon failure of the operation, the client sends a message from the client to the manager that includes information representing a description of the failure.