Abstract: In one embodiment, in response to a request for searching a file stored in a first directory, a first lookup is performed by a virtual file system in a first file system to locate the file. The virtual file system traverses from the first directory back to a mount point of the first file system to recreate a search path from the mount point to the first directory. The virtual file system performs a second lookup in a second directory of a second file system that is associated with the mount point to locate the file in the second file system, where second directory is identified by the recreated search path.

Abstract: In one embodiment, in response to a request for searching a file stored in a first directory, a first lookup is performed by a virtual file system in a first file system to locate the file. The virtual file system traverses from the first directory back to a mount point of the first file system to recreate a search path from the mount point to the first directory. The virtual file system performs a second lookup in a second directory of a second file system that is associated with the mount point to locate the file in the second file system, where second directory is identified by the recreated search path.

Abstract: A variety of methods and apparatus are taught for providing dynamic distributed file system client authentication. One method for providing dynamic distributed file system client authentication within a distributed file system computing environment includes the steps of receiving an NFS request from an NFS client, determining whether the NFS client has an access status sufficient to perform the NFS request, and performing the NFS request when the NFS client has sufficient access status. In some embodiments, the NFS request includes a file handle representing a given file system available on the server computer system and a file operation to be performed upon the given file system. A server computer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is operable to provide dynamic NFS client authentication.