Abstract: The disclosure herein describes generating a protected entity of a VCI. A state document is generated based on the metadata state of the VCI and an entity data stream is set to a URI associated with the data of the VCI. Components and associated URIs of the VCI are identified. A combined data stream is set to a URI configured to provide access to the state document, the entity data stream, and the URIs of the components of the VCI. A snapshot API for providing a snapshot of the state of the protected entity, a serialization API for providing a serialized version of the protected entity, and a de-serialization API for converting a serialized version of the protected entity into a de-serialized version of the protected entity are defined. The protected entity is configured to enable the data and metadata of the VCI to be efficiently backed up.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes generating a protected entity of a VCI. A state document is generated based on the metadata state of the VCI and an entity data stream is set to a URI associated with the data of the VCI. Components and associated URIs of the VCI are identified. A combined data stream is set to a URI configured to provide access to the state document, the entity data stream, and the URIs of the components of the VCI. A snapshot API for providing a snapshot of the state of the protected entity, a serialization API for providing a serialized version of the protected entity, and a de-serialization API for converting a serialized version of the protected entity into a de-serialized version of the protected entity are defined. The protected entity is configured to enable the data and metadata of the VCI to be efficiently backed up.

Abstract: A system configured to provide access to shared storage includes a first network node configured to provide access to the shared storage to a first plurality of client stations. The first network node includes a first cache memory module configured to store first data corresponding to the first plurality of client stations, and a first cache control module configured to transfer the first data from the first cache memory module to the shared storage. A second network node is configured to provide access to the shared storage to a second plurality of client stations. The second network node includes a second cache memory module configured to store second data corresponding to the second plurality of client stations and store the first data, and a second cache control module configured to transfer the second data from the second cache memory module to the shared storage.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to network file systems for balancing caching load in peer-to-peer based network file systems are described. In one aspect, a method includes maintaining, by a cluster containing two or more computer systems, information about files cached at a network that includes three or more computer systems configured to cache data associated with a file server system. The method also includes receiving, from one of the computer systems of the network, a request to identify at least one computer system of the network that caches a specified file. Further, the method includes identifying, by the cluster in response to the received request, one or more computer systems of the network that cache the specified file based on the maintained information. Furthermore, the method includes providing, by the cluster to the requesting computer system, information referencing at least the identified one or more computer systems of the network.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to network file systems for balancing caching load in peer-to-peer based network file systems are described. In one aspect, a method includes maintaining, by a cluster containing two or more computer systems, information about files cached at a network that includes three or more computer systems configured to cache data associated with a file server system. The method also includes receiving, from one of the computer systems of the network, a request to identify at least one computer system of the network that caches a specified file. Further, the method includes identifying, by the cluster in response to the received request, one or more computer systems of the network that cache the specified file based on the maintained information. Furthermore, the method includes providing, by the cluster to the requesting computer system, information referencing at least the identified one or more computer systems of the network.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to network file systems for balancing caching load in peer-to-peer based network file systems are described. In one aspect, a method includes maintaining, by a cluster containing two or more computer systems, information about files cached at a network that includes three or more computer systems configured to cache data associated with a file server system. The method also includes receiving, from one of the computer systems of the network, a request to identify at least one computer system of the network that caches a specified file. Further, the method includes identifying, by the cluster in response to the received request, one or more computer systems of the network that cache the specified file based on the maintained information. Furthermore, the method includes providing, by the cluster to the requesting computer system, information referencing at least the identified one or more computer systems of the network.

Abstract: A system configured to provide access to shared storage includes a first network node configured to provide access to the shared storage to a first plurality of client stations. The first network node includes a first cache memory module configured to store first data corresponding to the first plurality of client stations, and a first cache control module configured to transfer the first data from the first cache memory module to the shared storage. A second network node is configured to provide access to the shared storage to a second plurality of client stations. The second network node includes a second cache memory module configured to store second data corresponding to the second plurality of client stations and store the first data, and a second cache control module configured to transfer the second data from the second cache memory module to the shared storage.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to network file systems for balancing caching load in peer-to-peer based network file systems are described. In one aspect, a method includes maintaining, by a cluster containing two or more computer systems, information about files cached at a network that includes three or more computer systems configured to cache data associated with a file server system. The method also includes receiving, from one of the computer systems of the network, a request to identify at least one computer system of the network that caches a specified file. Further, the method includes identifying, by the cluster in response to the received request, one or more computer systems of the network that cache the specified file based on the maintained information. Furthermore, the method includes providing, by the cluster to the requesting computer system, information referencing at least the identified one or more computer systems of the network.