Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a virtual file system for communicating changes in metadata associated with data archived in a data storage system to applications. An aspect of the invention concerns a system that comprises a virtual file system for storing metadata files wherein each metadata file is associated with an archived data file, and a virtual file system interface coupled to the virtual file system for exposing changes in the metadata files to the applications.

Abstract: Processing archive content based on hierarchical classification levels is performed by indexing a first newly archived file of a current set of archive content at a first classification level defining a plurality of types of metadata to be derived, wherein the first classification level is selected from a hierarchy of classification levels having at least two classification levels, indexing a second newly archived file of the current set of archive content at a second classification level, wherein the second classification level includes fewer types of metadata than the first class of metadata, and flagging the second newly archived file of the current set of archive content. By classifying and flagging the second newly archived file differently than the first newly archived file, the system can easily retrieve such data at a later instance to update and/or change the data, re-index the data, and the like.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a virtual file system for communicating changes in metadata associated with data archived in a data storage system to applications. An aspect of the invention concerns a system that comprises a virtual file system for storing metadata files wherein each metadata file is associated with an archived data file, and a virtual file system interface coupled to the virtual file system for exposing changes in the metadata files to the applications.