Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclose shrinking a file system in a data processing system by designating an amount by which the file system stored in a memory and comprised of a plurality of contiguous logical blocks is to be shrunk. At least one contiguous intermediate logical block of the plurality of contiguous logical blocks from the file system is removed to shrink the file system by the designated amount. A record is maintained indicating a first intermediate logical block of the at least one contiguous intermediate logical block at which the removing starts, and a last intermediate logical block of the at least one contiguous intermediate logical block at which the removing ends.

Abstract: A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adjusting the size of a file system and an inline file system log housed in a static logical volume. A computer system includes a logical volume allocated between an file system and its inline file system log. A request is received to adjust the inline log from a current size to a new size while maintaining the size of the logical volume. Storage space is then allocated from within the logical volume to the inline log according to the storage requirement for the new size. Allocating storage space may require decreasing or increasing the amount of storage formerly allocated to the inline log. Then, the inline log is reformatted to the allocated storage space, such that the storage allocated to the inline log for a file system is adjusted while the size of the logical volume housing the inline log and file system remains static.

Abstract: A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for exporting file systems without having to mount them first are provided. Most Unix-based servers usually mount some system operation critical files at startup. Thus, directories have to be mounted. One or more of these directories are usually used as mount points for mounting other file systems when needed. An extended attribute file is used to provide all information needed to export a file system. Thus, a server need not mount a file system to obtain this information. That is on startup, a server needs only refer to these extended attribute files to obtain the information needed to export the file systems.

Abstract: A performance-enhancing system and method of accessing file system objects are provided. The system and method entail determining a plurality of file system objects that are frequently being accessed. Each one of these file system objects has a pathname and an inode number. The inode number is used to locate the file system object on a storage system. The pathname of each file system object and its inode number are cross-referenced and cached. Having a whole pathname of a file cross-referenced with its inode number and entered into a memory allows the inode number to be obtained with one memory access instead of the many memory accesses that are usually required.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for shrinking a file system in a data processing system. A computer implemented method for shrinking a file system in a data processing system includes designating an amount by which a file system comprised of a plurality of contiguous blocks is to be shrunk, and removing at least one contiguous intermediate block of the plurality of contiguous blocks from the file system to shrink the file system by the designated amount.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for shrinking a file system in a data processing system. A computer implemented method for shrinking a file system in a data processing system includes designating an amount by which a file system comprised of a plurality of contiguous blocks is to be shrunk, and removing at least one contiguous intermediate block of the plurality of contiguous blocks from the file system to shrink the file system by the designated amount.

Abstract: An operating system creates a current sparse object in a diagnostic file system. Then the operating system processes a change to data contained in a block. The operating system determines if the change is to a metadata block. The operating system encodes the change in a journal log, in response to a determination that the change is to a metadata block. In addition, the operating system writes the block to the current sparse object, in response to a determination that the change is to a metadata block.

Abstract: A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file.

Abstract: A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file.

Abstract: A method for generating sparse logical volume mirrors within data storage systems is disclosed. After one of the mirrored physical volumes within a mirrored physical volume configuration has been damaged, the damaged physical volume is replaced by a replacement physical volume. Then, each partition within a sparse logical volume associated with the mirrored physical volumes is interrogated. In response to a partition within the sparse logical volume being allocated, the partition is copied to the replacement physical volume. In response to a partition within the sparse logical volume not being allocated, the partition is not copied to the replacement physical volume.

Abstract: A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adjusting the size of a file system and an inline file system log housed in a static logical volume. A computer system includes a logical volume allocated between an file system and its inline file system log. A request is received to adjust the inline log from a current size to a new size while maintaining the size of the logical volume. Storage space is then allocated from within the logical volume to the inline log according to the storage requirement for the new size. Allocating storage space may require decreasing or increasing the amount of storage formerly allocated to the inline log. Then, the inline log is reformatted to the allocated storage space, such that the storage allocated to the inline log for a file system is adjusted while the size of the logical volume housing the inline log and file system remains static.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for disk quota management. Embodiments include assigning a user to a limits class, receiving, from a user, a request to store a resource, and determining whether to allow the user to store the resource in dependence upon the limits class and current disk usage of the user. In some embodiments, determining whether to allow the user to store the resource in dependence upon the limits class and current disk usage of the user includes retrieving a user record for the user, retrieving a limits record in dependence upon the user record, and comparing the user's current disk space usage in the user record and the size of the resource with the disk space usage maximum in the limits record.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for maintaining quota information in extended attributes associated with a quota data file. A quota data file includes file control information, including attributes such as a file name. The quota data file control information includes a reference to an extended attributes directory. Each user record is stored as an extended attribute in the extended attributes directory. Each extended attribute also has file control data. The quota information for a user is stored in-line in the file control data.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing a point-in-time image of a file system utilized within a data storage system employing logical volumes mapped across physical volumes. The point-in-time backup process begins with receipt of a file system backup request. In response to receiving the file system backup request, buffered file system data is written or flushed to the logical volumes. Specifically, in response to the file system backup request, buffered user data is written to the logical volumes, buffered meta data associated with the buffered user data is written to a file system backup log within the logical volumes, and the buffered meta data is written to the logical volumes. A disk copy of the designated physical volumes is initiated in response to the writing of the buffered file system data to the logical volumes.

Abstract: A system and method for including export information in the file system extended attribute data area is provided. File export information is determined by a system administrator or automated process. The determined export information is stored in an extended attribute data area corresponding with the file. When a computer system issues mount commands for the file systems to be mounted, the file system provides export information included in the extended attributes to the kernel whereupon the kernel exports the file system. Maintenance of file export information is thereby reduced. Backup, replications, and restorations of file systems is simplified by maintaining the export information along with the files being backed, replicated, or restored. For example, when the system administrator backs up a file, the export information in the extended attributes is backed-up as well. When the file system is retrieved, the export information is also retrieved within the extended attributes.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing a point-in-time image of a file system utilized within a data storage system employing logical volumes mapped across physical volumes. The point-in-time backup process begins with receipt of a file system backup request. In response to receiving the file system backup request, buffered file system data is written or flushed to the logical volumes. Specifically, in response to the file system backup request, buffered user data is written to the logical volumes, buffered meta data associated with the buffered user data is written to a file system backup log within the logical volumes, and the buffered meta data is written to the logical volumes. A disk copy of the designated physical volumes is initiated in response to the writing of the buffered file system data to the logical volumes.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for exporting file systems without having to mount them first are provided. Most Unix-based servers usually mount some system operation critical files at startup. Thus, directories have to be mounted. One or more of these directories are usually used as mount points for mounting other file systems when needed. An extended attribute file is used to provide all information needed to export a file system. Thus, a server need not mount a file system to obtain this information. That is on startup, a server needs only refer to these extended attribute files to obtain the information needed to export the file systems.