Abstract: Various methods and systems can be used to provide standard file system access to data that is originally accessed only by a proprietary interface. One such method involves querying an application (e.g., a database management system) for information identifying a location of each of several data objects within several volumes. The application provides a proprietary interface to the data objects stored on the volumes. The method then creates metadata, which associates each of several files within a new file system with the location of a respective one of the data objects within the volumes. The metadata can be created by an in-place conversion module implemented on a computing device. The method then provides the application with access to the files within the new file system, subsequent to creating the metadata.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for updating a search engine index based on a file change log are disclosed. One method involves accessing a file, which stores a file change log maintained by a file system. The file change log identifies one or more recently modified files. The method also involves updating an index, based on a recently-modified file identified in the file change log. The index is used to search files maintained by the file system. An application external to the file system accesses the file storing the file change log and updates the index.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided to update file change log data to indicate that a change to a file in a file system has occurred. The file change log data are accessible for read access using a file system-independent operating system function. Applications can read, open, close, and seek data in the file change log using file system-independent operating system functions. The file change log data can be read by multiple applications simultaneously, even when data are being written to the file change log. Operations such as writing data to the file change log and renaming or deleting the file change log file itself are prevented when performed by an application rather than the file system. These prohibitions protect the file change log.