Abstract: An application running in a container is able to access files stored on disk via normal file system calls, but in a manner that remains isolated from applications and processes in other containers. In one aspect, a namespace virtualization component is coupled with a copy-on-write component. When an isolated application is accessing a file stored on disk in a read-only manner, the namespace virtualization component and copy-on-write component grant access to the file. But, if the application requests to modify the file, the copy-on-write component intercepts the I/O and effectively creates a copy of the file in a different storage location on disk. The namespace virtualization component is then responsible for hiding the true location of the copy of the file, via namespace mapping.

Abstract: Storage virtualization techniques allow directories to be stored remotely, for example, by a cloud storage provider, but in a manner that appears to a user or application running on a local computing device as if the directories are stored locally—even though the data of those directories may not be resident on the local computing device. That is, the contents of directories that may exist in the cloud look and behave as if they were stored locally on a computing device.

Abstract: Storage virtualization techniques allow directories to be stored remotely, for example, by a cloud storage provider, but in a manner that appears to a user or application running on a local computing device as if the directories are stored locally—even though the data of those directories may not be resident on the local computing device. That is, the contents of directories that may exist in the cloud look and behave as if they were stored locally on a computing device.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. The directory entry types can define whether a cluster chain corresponding to a file can be contiguously allocated.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.

Abstract: Scalable data storage techniques are described. In one or more implementations, data is obtained by one or more computing devices that describes fault domains in a storage hierarchy and available storage resources in a data storage pool. Operational characteristics are ascertained, by the one or more computing devices, of devices associated with the available storage resources within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy. Distribution of metadata is assigned by the one or more computing devices to one or more particular data storage devices within the data storage pool based on the described fault domains and the ascertained operational characteristics of devices within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy.

Abstract: An application running in a container is able to access files stored on disk via normal file system calls, but in a manner that remains isolated from applications and processes in other containers. In one aspect, a namespace virtualization component is coupled with a copy-on-write component. When an isolated application is accessing a file stored on disk in a read-only manner, the namespace virtualization component and copy-on-write component grant access to the file. But, if the application requests to modify the file, the copy-on-write component intercepts the I/O and effectively creates a copy of the file in a different storage location on disk. The namespace virtualization component is then responsible for hiding the true location of the copy of the file, via namespace mapping.

Abstract: The state of a file may be a combination of local state, typically small (e.g., a placeholder file), and some external source state such as that maintained in a read-only namespace managed by a cloud provider or by another local file system, typically large. A file system component responsible for overlaying (i.e., merging) the partial local state and the external source state into a single file system view that can be used by an application of a container as if the full state exists locally. Overlays that comprise the file system state may be referred to as “layers”. A tombstone mechanism may be provided to record delete or rename modifications in the top layer.

Abstract: Scalable data storage techniques are described. In one or more implementations, data is obtained by one or more computing devices that describes fault domains in a storage hierarchy and available storage resources in a data storage pool. Operational characteristics are ascertained, by the one or more computing devices, of devices associated with the available storage resources within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy. Distribution of metadata is assigned by the one or more computing devices to one or more particular data storage devices within the data storage pool based on the described fault domains and the ascertained operational characteristics of devices within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy.

Abstract: Storage virtualization techniques allow files to be stored remotely, for example, by a cloud storage provider, but in a manner that appears to a user or application running on a local computing device as if the files are stored locally—even though the data of those files may not be resident on the local computing device. That is, the contents of files that may exist in the cloud look and behave as if they were stored locally on a computing device.

Abstract: Storage virtualization techniques allow directories to be stored remotely, for example, by a cloud storage provider, but in a manner that appears to a user or application running on a local computing device as if the directories are stored locally—even though the data of those directories may not be resident on the local computing device. That is, the contents of directories that may exist in the cloud look and behave as if they were stored locally on a computing device.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. The directory entry types can define whether a cluster chain corresponding to a file can be contiguously allocated.

Abstract: Scalable data storage techniques are described. In one or more implementations, data is obtained by one or more computing devices that describes fault domains in a storage hierarchy and available storage resources in a data storage pool. Operational characteristics are ascertained, by the one or more computing devices, of devices associated with the available storage resources within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy. Distribution of metadata is assigned by the one or more computing devices to one or more particular data storage devices within the data storage pool based on the described fault domains and the ascertained operational characteristics of devices within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for granular opportunistic locking mechanisms (oplocks) are provided for increasing file caching efficiency. Oplocks can be specified with a combination of three possible granular caching intentions: read, write, and/or handle. An oplock can be specified with an identifier that indicates a client/specific caller to avoid breaking the original oplock due to an incompatibility from other requests of the same client. An atomic oplock flag is added to create operations that allow callers to request an atomic open with an oplock with a given file.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. The directory entry types can define whether a cluster chain corresponding to a file can be contiguously allocated.

Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.

Abstract: Scalable data storage techniques are described. In one or more implementations, data is obtained by one or more computing devices that describes fault domains in a storage hierarchy and available storage resources in a data storage pool. Operational characteristics are ascertained, by the one or more computing devices, of devices associated with the available storage resources within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy. Distribution of metadata is assigned by the one or more computing devices to one or more particular data storage devices within the data storage pool based on the described fault domains and the ascertained operational characteristics of devices within one or more levels of the storage hierarchy.