Abstract: A write-once-read-many, WORM, storage system is arranged to store datasets each with associated attributes including a WORM attribute indicating the dataset's WORM status, and to protect from change or deletion WORM datasets, and at least certain of their attributes including those relevant to WORM status. Retention management capabilities are provided for such a storage system, including the ability to set a given dataset for retention for a particular retention period by storing a corresponding retention date in an attribute of the dataset, and setting the WORM attribute to indicate that the dataset is a WORM dataset. Also provided is the ability to determine expiry of the retention period for the given dataset, and then to remove the stored retention date and change the WORM attribute of the dataset to indicate that it is no longer a WORM dataset.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to automatic WORM-retention state transitions. In example embodiments, a storage computing device may detect a request to access, via a file system, a file that is associated with a first retention state. The first retention state may indicate either a first type of WORM-retention protection for the file or no WORM-retention protection for the file. The storage computing device may determine, in response to the request, that the file should be designated with a second retention state. The second retention state may indicate a second type of WORM-retention protection for the file. The determination may be based on a retention policy file that is tightly integrated with the file system and metadata of the file. The storage computing device may transition the file (e.g., by communicating with the file system) to be associated with the second retention state instead of the first retention state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for performing a file lookup. An example of a system includes a file system corresponding to one or more physical storage devices, a database that stores metadata corresponding to files in the file system, and a search module. The reporting framework receives search criteria for a file lookup, generates a complex query based on the search criteria, sends the query to the database, receives search results corresponding to the query, and generates a search report based on the search results. The search criteria include two or more search tokens and one or more Boolean operators.

Abstract: A method includes accessing a file in a storage device. The method includes placing the file in a retention state. The method includes storing the file's information into a database. The method includes generating a hash of the file's content. The method includes storing the hash in the database with the file's information.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to replicating metadata. A method includes accessing a first file with a first unique identifier at a source location in a storage device, wherein metadata corresponding to the first file is stored in a first database with the first unique identifier. The method includes replicating the first file to produce a second file at a target location, wherein the second file has a second unique identifier. The method includes replicating the metadata and the first unique identifier to a second database. The method includes mapping the second unique identifier to the first unique identifier in the second database.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to automatic WORM-retention state transitions. In example embodiments, a storage computing device may detect a request to access, via a file system, a file that is associated with a first retention state. The first retention state may indicate either a first type of WORM-retention protection for the file or no WORM-retention protection for the file. The storage computing device may determine, in response to the request, that the file should be designated with a second retention state. The second retention state may indicate a second type of WORM-retention protection for the file. The determination may be based on a retention policy file that is tightly integrated with the file system and metadata of the file. The storage computing device may transition the file (e.g., by communicating with the file system) to be associated with the second retention state instead of the first retention state.

Abstract: Multiple file system events are detected on one or more nodes of a file system, each file system event corresponding to an operation that is to be performed on the file system. Each of the multiple system events are durably recorded as an entry for a journal of the file system prior to either performance or completion of the corresponding operation. A programmatic component that is external to the file system can process entries from the journal, and in response, the entries can be expired from the journal.

Abstract: A write-once-read-many, WORM, storage system is arranged to store datasets each with associated attributes including a WORM attribute indicating the dataset's WORM status, and to protect from change or deletion WORM datasets, and at least certain of their attributes including those relevant to WORM status. Retention management capabilities are provided for such a storage system, including the ability to set a given dataset for retention for a particular retention period by storing a corresponding retention date in an attribute of the dataset, and setting the WORM attribute to indicate that the dataset is a WORM dataset. Also provided is the ability to determine expiry of the retention period for the given dataset, and then to remove the stored retention date and change the WORM attribute of the dataset to indicate that it is no longer a WORM dataset.

Abstract: A clustered storage system includes a machine arranged to check, using its own clock as a current time reference, for expiry of a retention period set for a dataset stored in the system. In order to monitor for any interference with its clock, the expiry-checking machine obtains from other machines of the system, the current times of their clocks, and then derives a value from these times which it compares with a current time value from its own clock; where the difference between these values exceeds a predetermined amount, the expiry-checking machine generates an alert. This monitoring process is carried out repeatedly.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing multi-node environment comprising a first node associated with a first operating system; a second node associated with a second operating system, wherein the second operating system is independent of the first operating system; a storage; and an interconnect coupling the first node with the storage and coupling the second node with the storage; and wherein the first node directly accesses the storage and the second node directly accesses the storage.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing multi-node environment comprising a first node associated with a first operating system; a second node associated with a second operating system, wherein the second operating system is independent of the first operating system; a storage; and an interconnect coupling the first node with the storage and coupling the second node with the storage; and wherein the first node directly accesses the storage and the second node directly accesses the storage.