Abstract: Techniques are provided for accessing and storing files within a virtual folder. A virtual folder is a folder that is logically a part of a hierarchical folder structure of a file system repository, but the contents of the virtual folder are not physically stored in the file system repository. A client may issue, to an access mechanism, a request to perform a file operation on a file in a virtual folder. The access mechanism, which may be a database server or a component therein, may perform the file operation on the file in the virtual folder as if the file was stored in a particular folder within the hierarchical folder structure implemented by the file system repository. Advantageously, files may be physically stored outside of the file system repository, but still be a part of the hierarchical folder structure implemented by the file system repository.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sharing state information among a plurality of servers is provided. A first server receives a request to perform a file operation, such as a NFS file system operation. Thereafter, the first server updates state information to reflect a change in state associated with processing the request. The first server then causes state update information, which identifies the change in state that was made at the first server, to be propagated to a second server. The second server updates state information, stored at the second server, to reflect the change in state associated with processing the request at the first server. Advantageously, a client may send a series of stateful file operations to either the first server or the second server, even if processing any one of the stateful file operation requests requires knowledge of the state of processing prior requests in the series of requests.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reverting a resource to a prior state in time is provided. Changes are committed to a resource at a particular point in time. After the particular point in time, a request, which may be a file system operation request, to revert the resource to a state prior to the particular point in time is received at a database server. In response to the request, the resource is reverted to the state prior to the particular point in time. The current state of the resource ceases to reflect the plurality of changes. Advantageously, if a requestor creates an incorrect version of a resource, the changes made to a schema-based resource are not compatible with the schema, or the changes of multiple requesters are not compatible with each other, the resource may be reverted to the earlier point in time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a file system operation at a database server is provided. A request to perform a file system operation on a resource stored in a database is received at a database system. The request may be implemented using the NFS protocol. The request may include state identification data that identifies state information associated with the request. State information associated with the request is retrieved within the database system based on the state identification data. State information is information that describes the operational state of the requestor for a particular file. The request is then processed based, at least in part, on the state identification. File system operations may be processed a database management system to access any data, such as a file, relational data, and object-relational data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing file system operations involving a link is provided. A request to perform a file system operation involving a link is received from a client at a database server. The link may establish a relationship a source resource has to a target resource. The source resource and the target resource may be stored within a repository implemented by a storage medium, such as a database. The database server may perform the file system operation by storing, in the database, one or more link records that identifies the link between the first resource and the second resource. File system operations, such as a NFS file system operation, which involve links may be performed at a database management system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing file system operation locks at a database server is provided. A database server may employ database locks and file system operation locks in servicing requests from consistent requestors and inconsistent requesters. A database lock is a lock that is obtained in response to performing a database operation, and the database lock is released when the database operation has successfully completed. A file system operation lock is a lock that is obtained in response to performing an OPEN file system operation, and the file system operation lock is released when a CLOSE file system operation is performed. The database server may use a temporary copy of the resource, which reflects all the current changes that have been made to the resource by database operations, in servicing consistent requestors, and may use the original version of the resource in servicing inconsistent requesters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing network file system (NFS) operations across a plurality of servers is provided. At a first server, a filehandle for a particular file is generated based, at least in part, on an identifier that uniquely identifies the particular file relative to all other files within a file system repository. The file system repository may be implemented in a database. The identifier may also be stored in the database. The first server sends a client the filehandle. The client may thereafter send another request for the performance of a file operation, containing the filehandle, to a different server. The second server may read the filehandle and use the identifier to locate the file within the repository against which to perform the file operation without receiving, from the first server, information that associates the filehandle with the file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing file system operations involving a link is provided. A request to perform a file system operation involving a link is received from a client at a database server. The link may establish a relationship a source resource has to a target resource. The source resource and the target resource may be stored within a repository implemented by a storage medium, such as a database. The database server may perform the file system operation by storing, in the database, one or more link records that identifies the link between the first resource and the second resource. File system operations, such as a NFS file system operation, which involve links may be performed at a database management system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sharing state information among a plurality of servers is provided. A first server receives a request to perform a file operation, such as a NFS file system operation. Thereafter, the first server updates state information to reflect a change in state associated with processing the request. The first server then causes state update information, which identifies the change in state that was made at the first server, to be propagated to a second server. The second server updates state information, stored at the second server, to reflect the change in state associated with processing the request at the first server. Advantageously, a client may send a series of stateful file operations to either the first server or the second server, even if processing any one of the stateful file operation requests requires knowledge of the state of processing prior requests in the series of requests.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for accessing and storing files within a virtual folder. A virtual folder is a folder that is logically a part of a hierarchical folder structure of a file system repository, but the contents of the virtual folder are not physically stored in the file system repository. A client may issue, to an access mechanism, a request to perform a file operation on a file in a virtual folder. The access mechanism, which may be a database server or a component therein, may perform the file operation on the file in the virtual folder as if the file was stored in a particular folder within the hierarchical folder structure implemented by the file system repository. Advantageously, files may be physically stored outside of the file system repository, but still be a part of the hierarchical folder structure implemented by the file system repository.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing network file system (NFS) operations across a plurality of servers is provided. At a first server, a filehandle for a particular file is generated based, at least in part, on an identifier that uniquely identifies the particular file relative to all other files within a file system repository. The file system repository may be implemented in a database. The identifier may also be stored in the database. The first server sends a client the filehandle. The client may thereafter send another request for the performance of a file operation, containing the filehandle, to a different server. The second server may read the filehandle and use the identifier to locate the file within the repository against which to perform the file operation without receiving, from the first server, information that associates the filehandle with the file.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for “lazy” manifestation of XML documents. In lazy manifestation, only portions of an XML document that contain data of interest (e.g., a particular element or attribute requested by an application) are manifested. The term “manifesting a portion of an XML document” refers to creating an in-memory representation of the portion and incorporating it into existing in-memory representation of an XML document, if any. These portions are referred to herein as a loadable unit. A loadable unit is a set of one or more nodes in an XML document, where when there is need to manifest a node in the set, other nodes in the loadable unit are manifested too. Loadable units may, but not necessarily, correlate to content structures that store the nodes. A loadable unit may be the nodes whose content is contained in a row.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing file system operation locks at a database server is provided. A database server may employ database locks and file system operation locks in servicing requests from consistent requestors and inconsistent requesters. A database lock is a lock that is obtained in response to performing a database operation, and the database lock is released when the database operation has successfully completed. A file system operation lock is a lock that is obtained in response to performing an OPEN file system operation, and the file system operation lock is released when a CLOSE file system operation is performed. The database server may use a temporary copy of the resource, which reflects all the current changes that have been made to the resource by database operations, in servicing consistent requestors, and may use the original version of the resource in servicing inconsistent requesters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reverting a resource to a prior state in time is provided. Changes are committed to a resource at a particular point in time. After the particular point in time, a request, which may be a file system operation request, to revert the resource to a state prior to the particular point in time is received at a database server. In response to the request, the resource is reverted to the state prior to the particular point in time. The current state of the resource ceases to reflect the plurality of changes. Advantageously, if a requestor creates an incorrect version of a resource, the changes made to a schema-based resource are not compatible with the schema, or the changes of multiple requesters are not compatible with each other, the resource may be reverted to the earlier point in time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing file system operation locks at a database server is provided. A request to perform a file operation on a portion of a file managed by a database server is received at the database server. In response to receiving the request, the database server grants a lock that covers only a portion of the file that is involved in the file operation. For example, the database server may grant a lock that covers a range of bytes on the file, where the range of bytes is less than the entire file. Thereafter, the database server performs the file operation on the file. The file operation may be a NFS operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a file system operation at a database server is provided. A request to perform a file system operation on a resource stored in a database is received at a database system. The request may be implemented using the NFS protocol. The request may include state identification data that identifies state information associated with the request. State information associated with the request is retrieved within the database system based on the state identification data. State information is information that describes the operational state of the requestor for a particular file. The request is then processed based, at least in part, on the state identification. File system operations may be processed a database management system to access any data, such as a file, relational data, and object-relational data.