Abstract: A storage cluster includes a plurality of storage nodes. Each of the plurality of storage nodes includes nonvolatile solid-state memory and each of the plurality of storage nodes is configured to cooperate with others of the plurality of storage nodes having differing storage capacities in applying erasure coding. The plurality of storage nodes are configured to distribute the user data and metadata throughout the plurality of storage nodes.

Abstract: A method for adaptive concurrency for write persistence in a storage system, performed by the storage system, is provided. The method includes selecting a write process from among a plurality of write processes, responsive to receiving a write request for writing data into the storage system, and writing the data into the storage system in accordance with the selected write process. One of the plurality of write processes includes transferring the data into the storage system, locking an inode associated with file information of the data in memory, updating the file information in the inode while the inode is locked, committing the data while the inode is locked, and unlocking the inode.

Abstract: A method for distribution of directories in a storage system is provided. The method includes distributing information, regarding location in the storage system of a plurality of files in a directory, to a plurality of owners in a plurality of storage nodes of the storage system, wherein ownership of differing subsets of the plurality of files of the directory is distributed among differing owners in differing storage nodes. The method includes receiving a request for location information in the storage system of a file of the plurality of files in the directory and determining, based on a file name of the file and an identity of the directory, which of the plurality of owners has ownership of the file and the location information for the file.

Abstract: A method of processing transactions associated with a command in a storage system is provided. The method includes receiving, at a first authority of the storage system, a command relating to user data. The method includes sending a transaction of the command, from the first authority to a second authority of the storage system, wherein a token accompanies the transaction and writing data in accordance with the transaction as permitted by the token into a partition that is allocated to the second authority in a storage device of the storage system.

Abstract: A method for preserving a media access control (MAC) address of a virtual server is provided. The method includes assigning a physical computing resource to a virtual server, assigning a physical storage memory resource to the virtual server, and assigning a physical network resource to the virtual server. The method includes assigning a virtual MAC address to the virtual server, the virtual MAC address to remain with the virtual server despite reassignment of one or more of the physical computing resource, the physical storage memory resource or the physical network resource, wherein at least one method operation is performed by a processor. A computing and storage system is also provided.

Abstract: A method for distribution of directories in a storage system is provided. The method includes distributing information, regarding location in the storage system of a plurality of files in a directory, to a plurality of owners in a plurality of storage nodes of the storage system, wherein ownership of differing subsets of the plurality of files of the directory is distributed among differing owners in differing storage nodes. The method includes receiving a request for location information in the storage system of a file of the plurality of files in the directory and determining, based on a file name of the file and an identity of the directory, which of the plurality of owners has ownership of the file and the location information for the file.

Abstract: A method of processing transactions associated with a command in a storage system is provided. The method includes receiving, at a first authority of the storage system, a command relating to user data. The method includes sending a transaction of the command, from the first authority to a second authority of the storage system, wherein a token accompanies the transaction and writing data in accordance with the transaction as permitted by the token into a partition that is allocated to the second authority in a storage device of the storage system.

Abstract: A method for preserving a media access control (MAC) address of a virtual server is provided. The method includes assigning a physical computing resource to a virtual server, assigning a physical storage memory resource to the virtual server, and assigning a physical network resource to the virtual server. The method includes assigning a virtual MAC address to the virtual server, the virtual MAC address to remain with the virtual server despite reassignment of one or more of the physical computing resource, the physical storage memory resource or the physical network resource, wherein at least one method operation is performed by a processor. A computing and storage system is also provided.

Abstract: A method for file locks in a distributed file system, performed by a storage system is provided. The method includes receiving, at a storage system having a distributed file system, a request for access of a file and locking the file, through one of a plurality of persistent file locks in the storage system. The method includes accessing the file, through the distributed file system, and unlocking the file, through the one of the plurality of persistent file locks.

Abstract: A method for accessing a file in a storage system is provided. The method includes determining, for each file chunk of the file, an authority among differing storage nodes of the storage system and receiving from the authority having ownership of the file chunk, location information for the file chunk. The method includes accessing file chunks of the file as directed by each of the determined authorities.

Abstract: A method for file locks in a distributed file system, performed by a storage system is provided. The method includes receiving, at a storage system having a distributed file system, a request for access of a file and locking the file, through one of a plurality of persistent file locks in the storage system. The method includes accessing the file, through the distributed file system, and unlocking the file, through the one of the plurality of persistent file locks.

Abstract: A method for accessing a file in a storage system is provided. The method includes determining, for each file chunk of the file, an authority among differing storage nodes of the storage system and receiving from the authority having ownership of the file chunk, location information for the file chunk. The method includes accessing file chunks of the file as directed by each of the determined authorities.

Abstract: A method of operating a remote procedure call cache in a storage cluster is provided. The method includes receiving a remote procedure call at a first storage node having solid-state memory and writing information, relating to the remote procedure call, to a remote procedure call cache of the first storage node. The method includes mirroring the remote procedure call cache of the first storage node in a mirrored remote procedure call cache of a second storage node. A plurality of storage nodes and a storage cluster are also provided.

Abstract: A method for administration through files in a storage cluster is provided. The method includes distributing user data, including files, throughout a plurality of storage nodes having non-volatile solid-state memory, through erasure coding. The plurality of storage nodes are housed within a single chassis that couples the storage nodes as the storage cluster. The method includes receiving at the storage cluster a command to write a file or read a file, the file having a filename. The method includes determining whether the filename is reserved and determining an administrative action according to the file, responsive to determining that the filename is reserved. The method includes initiating the administrative action. A storage system is also provided.

Abstract: A storage cluster includes a plurality of storage nodes. Each of the plurality of storage nodes includes nonvolatile solid-state memory and each of the plurality of storage nodes is configured to cooperate with others of the plurality of storage nodes having differing storage capacities in applying erasure coding. The plurality of storage nodes are configured to distribute the user data and metadata throughout the plurality of storage nodes.

Abstract: A method of operating a remote procedure call cache in a storage cluster is provided. The method includes receiving a remote procedure call at a first storage node having solid-state memory and writing information, relating to the remote procedure call, to a remote procedure call cache of the first storage node. The method includes mirroring the remote procedure call cache of the first storage node in a mirrored remote procedure call cache of a second storage node. A plurality of storage nodes and a storage cluster are also provided.

Abstract: A processor-based method for locating data and metadata closely together in a storage system is provided. The method includes writing a first range of a file and a first metadata relating to attributes of the file into at least one segment controlled by a first authority of the file. The method includes delegating, by the first authority, a second authority for a second range of the file, and writing the second range of the file and second metadata relating to the attributes of the file into at least one segment controlled by the second authority.

Abstract: A method for administration through files in a storage cluster is provided. The method includes distributing user data, including files, throughout a plurality of storage nodes having non-volatile solid-state memory, through erasure coding. The plurality of storage nodes are housed within a single chassis that couples the storage nodes as the storage cluster. The method includes receiving at the storage cluster a command to write a file or read a file, the file having a filename. The method includes determining whether the filename is reserved and determining an administrative action according to the file, responsive to determining that the filename is reserved. The method includes initiating the administrative action. A storage system is also provided.

Abstract: A storage cluster includes a plurality of storage nodes. Each of the plurality of storage nodes includes nonvolatile solid-state memory and each of the plurality of storage nodes is configured to cooperate with others of the plurality of storage nodes having differing storage capacities in applying erasure coding. The plurality of storage nodes are configured to distribute the user data and metadata throughout the plurality of storage nodes.

Abstract: A processor-based method for locating data and metadata closely together in a storage system is provided. The method includes writing a first range of a file and a first metadata relating to attributes of the file into at least one segment controlled by a first authority of the file. The method includes delegating, by the first authority, a second authority for a second range of the file, and writing the second range of the file and second metadata relating to the attributes of the file into at least one segment controlled by the second authority.