Abstract: A system comprises control circuitry that is operable to assign a first of a plurality of computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a first plurality of network addresses; assign a second of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a second plurality of network addresses; maintain statistics regarding file system requests sent to each of the first plurality of network addresses and the second plurality of network addresses; and reassign, based on the statistics, the first of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for a selected one of the second plurality of network addresses.

Abstract: A plurality of computing devices are interconnected via a local area network and comprise circuitry configured to implement a virtual file system comprising one or more instances of a virtual file system front end and one or more instances of a virtual file system back end. Each instance of the virtual file system front end may be configured to receive a file system call from a file system driver residing on the plurality of computing devices, and determine which of the one or more instances of the virtual file system back end is responsible for servicing the file system call. Each instance of the virtual file system back end may be configured to receive a file system call from the one or more instances of the virtual file system front end, and update file system metadata for data affected by the servicing of the file system call.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes defining a host cluster within a group of host computers, which access a storage system that includes multiple logical volumes. The host cluster includes two or more of the host computers. Responsively to a single mapping instruction, each of the host computers in the host cluster is mapped to access the logical volumes in the set. In another disclosed method, a single control instruction, which specifies the host cluster and a configuration operation to be applied to the host computers in the host cluster, is accepted. Responsively to the single control instruction, the configuration operation is applied to each of the host computers in the host cluster.

Abstract: A first computing device is part of a distributed electronic storage system (DESS) that also comprises one or more second computing devices. The first computing device comprises client process circuitry and DESS interface circuitry. The DESS interface circuitry is operable to: receive, from client process circuitry of the first computing device, a first client file system request that requires accessing a storage resource on one or more of the second computing devices; determine resources required for servicing of the first client file system request; generate a plurality of DESS file system requests for the first file system request; and transmit the plurality of DESS file system requests onto the one or more network links. How many such DESS file system requests are generated is determined based on the resources required for servicing the first client file system request.

Abstract: A plurality of computing devices are communicatively coupled to each other via a network, and each of the plurality of computing devices comprises one or more of a plurality of storage devices. A plurality of failure resilient address spaces are distributed across the plurality of storage devices such that each of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces spans a plurality of the storage devices. Each one of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces is organized into a plurality of stripes. Each one or more stripes of the plurality of stripes is part of a respective one of a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) protection domains. Each of the plurality of stripes may comprise a plurality of storage blocks. Each block of a particular one of the plurality of stripes may reside on a different one of the plurality of storage devices.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of computing devices that are communicatively coupled via a network and have a file system distributed among them, and comprises one or more file system request buffers residing on one or more of the plurality of computing devices. File system choking management circuitry that resides on one or more of the plurality of computing devices is operable to separately control: a first rate at which a first type of file system requests (e.g., one of data requests, data read requests, data write requests, metadata requests, metadata read requests, and metadata write requests) are fetched from the one or more buffers, and a second rate at which a second type of file system requests (e.g., another of data requests, data read requests, data write requests, metadata requests, metadata read requests, and metadata write requests) are fetched from the one or more buffers.

Abstract: A first computing device is part of a distributed electronic storage system (DESS) that also comprises one or more second computing devices. The first computing device comprises client process circuitry and DESS interface circuitry. The DESS interface circuitry is operable to: receive, from client process circuitry of the first computing device, a first client file system request that requires accessing a storage resource on one or more of the second computing devices; determine resources required for servicing of the first client file system request; generate a plurality of DESS file system requests for the first file system request; and transmit the plurality of DESS file system requests onto the one or more network links. How many such DESS file system requests are generated is determined based on the resources required for servicing the first client file system request.

Abstract: One or more computing devices may comprise congestion management circuitry, one or more client file system request buffers, and DESS interface circuitry. The congestion management circuitry is operable to determine an amount of congestion in the DESS. The one or more client file system request buffers is/are operable to queue first client file system requests of a first priority level and second client file system requests of a second priority level, wherein the first priority level is higher priority than the second priority level. The DESS interface circuitry is operable to control a rate at which the first file system requests and second file system requests are fetched from the one or more client file system request buffers based on the amount of congestion in the DESS, on the first priority level, and on the second priority level.

Abstract: One or more computing devices may comprise congestion management circuitry, one or more client file system request buffers, and DESS interface circuitry. The one or more client file system request buffers is/are operable to queue first client file system requests of a first priority level and second client file system requests of a second priority level, where the first priority level is higher priority than the second priority level. The DESS interface circuitry is operable to determine a choking level according to the load on a plurality of DESS resources. Individual load values of the DESS resources are mapped to a composite load value using a first function. The composite load value is mapped to a congestion contribution using a second function. And, the congestion contribution is mapped to a choking level using a third function.

Abstract: A plurality of computing devices are communicatively coupled to each other via a network, and each of the plurality of computing devices comprises one or more of a plurality of storage devices. A plurality of failure resilient address spaces are distributed across the plurality of storage devices such that each of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces spans a plurality of the storage devices. Each one of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces is organized into a plurality of stripes. Each one or more stripes of the plurality of stripes is part of a respective one of a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) protection domains. Each of the plurality of stripes may comprise a plurality of storage blocks. Each block of a particular one of the plurality of stripes may reside on a different one of the plurality of storage devices.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of computing devices that are communicatively coupled via a network and have a file system distributed among them, and comprises one or more file system request buffers residing on one or more of the plurality of computing devices. File system choking management circuitry that resides on one or more of the plurality of computing devices is operable to separately control: a first rate at which a first type of file system requests (e.g., one of data requests, data read requests, data write requests, metadata requests, metadata read requests, and metadata write requests) are fetched from the one or more buffers, and a second rate at which a second type of file system requests (e.g., another of data requests, data read requests, data write requests, metadata requests, metadata read requests, and metadata write requests) are fetched from the one or more buffers.

Abstract: A distributed electronic storage system (DESS) comprises congestion management circuitry and data migration circuitry. The congestion management circuitry is operable to determine an amount of congestion in the DESS. The data migration circuitry is operable to control migration of data stored in a first tier of storage to a second tier of storage based on the amount of congestion in the DESS, characteristics of the data, and characteristics of the first tier of storage.

Abstract: A distributed electronic storage system (DESS) comprises a plurality of computing devices communicatively coupled via one or more network links and having a file system distributed among them. The DESS comprises management circuitry that resides on the first computing device. The management circuitry is operable to generate an indication of a load on a first resource that resides on the first computing device. The management circuitry is operable to receive, via the one or more network links, an indication of a load on a second resource that resides on a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices. The management circuitry is operable to determine a condition of the DESS based on the indication of the load on the first resource and the indication of the load on the second resource.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of computing devices that are communicatively coupled via a network and have a file system distributed among them, and comprises one or more file system request buffers residing on one or more of the plurality of computing devices. File system choking management circuitry that resides on one or more of the plurality of computing devices is operable to separately control: a first rate at which a first type of file system requests (e.g., one of data requests, data read requests, data write requests, metadata requests, metadata read requests, and metadata write requests) are fetched from the one or more buffers, and a second rate at which a second type of file system requests (e.g., another of data requests, data read requests, data write requests, metadata requests, metadata read requests, and metadata write requests) are fetched from the one or more buffers.

Abstract: A first computing device is part of a distributed electronic storage system (DESS) that also comprises one or more second computing devices. The first computing device comprises client process circuitry and DESS interface circuitry. The DESS interface circuitry is operable to: receive, from client process circuitry of the first computing device, a first client file system request that requires accessing a storage resource on one or more of the second computing devices; determine resources required for servicing of the first client file system request; generate a plurality of DESS file system requests for the first file system request; and transmit the plurality of DESS file system requests onto the one or more network links. How many such DESS file system requests are generated is determined based on the resources required for servicing the first client file system request.

Abstract: A system comprises control circuitry that is operable to assign a first of a plurality of computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a first plurality of network addresses; assign a second of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a second plurality of network addresses; maintain statistics regarding file system requests sent to each of the first plurality of network addresses and the second plurality of network addresses; and reassign, based on the statistics, the first of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for a selected one of the second plurality of network addresses.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes defining a host cluster within a group of host computers, which access a storage system that includes multiple logical volumes. The host cluster includes two or more of the host computers. A single mapping instruction, which specifies the host cluster and a set of one or more of the logical volumes, is accepted. Responsively to the single mapping instruction, each of the host computers in the host cluster is mapped to access the logical volumes in the set. In another disclosed method, a single control instruction, which specifies the host cluster and a configuration operation to be applied to the host computers in the host cluster, is accepted. Responsively to the single control instruction, the configuration operation is applied to each of the host computers in the host cluster.

Abstract: One or more computing devices may comprise congestion management circuitry, one or more client file system request buffers, and DESS interface circuitry. The congestion management circuitry is operable to determine an amount of congestion in the DESS. The one or more client file system request buffers is/are operable to queue first client file system requests of a first priority level and second client file system requests of a second priority level, wherein the first priority level is higher priority than the second priority level. The DESS interface circuitry is operable to control a rate at which the first file system requests and second file system requests are fetched from the one or more client file system request buffers based on the amount of congestion in the DESS, on the first priority level, and on the second priority level.

Abstract: A system comprises control circuitry that is operable to assign a first of a plurality of computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a first plurality of network addresses; assign a second of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a second plurality of network addresses; maintain statistics regarding file system requests sent to each of the first plurality of network addresses and the second plurality of network addresses; and reassign, based on the statistics, the first of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for a selected one of the second plurality of network addresses.

Abstract: A system comprises control circuitry that is operable to assign a first of a plurality of computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a first plurality of network addresses; assign a second of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for any of a second plurality of network addresses; maintain statistics regarding file system requests sent to each of the first plurality of network addresses and the second plurality of network addresses; and reassign, based on the statistics, the first of the computing devices to serve file system requests destined for a selected one of the second plurality of network addresses.