Abstract: An approach is provided for implementing a virtual file system using a key-value-based storage interface. A key-value directory framework determines one or more files stored in at least one stream-based file store. The key-value directory framework causes, at least in part, a grouping of the one or more files into at least one key-value directory. The key-value directory includes, at least in part, one or more key-value pairs of a distributed key-value store. The key-value directory framework also causes, at least in part, a storage of (a) at least one identifier of the one or more files, the at least one key-value directory, or a combination thereof as one or more keys of the one or more key-value pairs; (b) block-based access information associated with the one or more files as one or more values of the key-value pairs; and (c) a locking mechanism to facilitate coordination of threads across multiple hosts.

Abstract: A storage virtualization apparatus comprises a judgment portion. The judgment portion judges whether encryption functions are present in an external storage subsystem having an external logical volume identified based on a write request received from a higher-level device. When the result of the judgment is negative, the storage virtualization apparatus uses its own encryption functions to encrypt the data of the write request before transmission to the external storage subsystem, but when the result of the judgment is positive, the storage virtualization apparatus transmits the data of the write request as-is to the external storage subsystem, without using its own encryption functions to perform encryption.

Abstract: In response to detection of an error in a filesystem file of a virtually provisioned volume or iSCSI LUN host, where the filesystem file is represented in a container filesystem, a Media Sector Error is returned at the virtual volume layer or the virtual iSCSI layer. The error may be a file allocation correction because of a shared block detected by a filesystem check of the container filesystem. The container may flag the shared block to prompt return of the Media Sector Error in response to attempted access of the block by the host. The host is operative to process the Media Sector Error like a storage subsystem Read Media Error, such that the flagged block is overwritten by the host to clear the error.

Abstract: A virtual system environment in a computing system allows non-root users to perform administrative operations normally requiring root privileges. A virtual control module has a virtual file system with virtual directories corresponding to one or more of the system directories of a root file system. Each virtual directory contains one or more symbolic links symbolically linking to one or more system files as link targets. The symbolic links have non-root permissions that allow the non-root users to perform administrative operations in the virtual control module that delete, change or replace the symbolic links. A capability is provided to resolve the symbolic links within the virtual control module to allow the non-root users to execute the link targets via the symbolic links. One or more non-root users may be placed in the virtual control module by setting their apparent root directory to a root directory of the virtual file system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing distributed storage servers are described. The storage servers may be selected and divided into multiple sequences and multiple virtual node groups. Each sequence of the multiple sequences may include a predetermined number of storage servers, and each virtual node group may include a set of storage servers of the multiple sequences. Data may be transferred to storage severs of a virtual node group. If the storage servers have instantaneous or temporary malfunctions, the data may be transferred to temporary storage servers and then transferred back the storage servers after being revived. If the storage servers have permanent malfunctions, the data may be transferred to the temporary storage servers. The storage servers may be replaced using the temporary storage servers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method that that allows device administrators to set disk quotas for each share of a server. Quotas are set and enforced per share. The quota specifies the total disk space the share may consume on the device. When a share reaches or exceeds the set quota the share can no longer be written to.

Abstract: A system enables cluster-level backup and restore functionality of all Virtual Input/Output Server (VIOS) configuration data within a VIOS cluster and the data of a shared VIOS cluster database. The system comprises a VIOS partition: performing, via a backup/restore utility of the VIOS partition, a cluster level backup, which creates a first VIOS cluster configuration backup file having configuration information about hardware, logical and virtual devices of each VIOS partition within a VIOS cluster and all cluster data from the shared VIOS database of the VIOS cluster; storing the VIOS cluster configuration backup file within a storage location; and responsive to receipt of a VIOS restore command at a VIOS partition: retrieving the configuration backup file from the storage location; restoring a configuration of the hardware, logical and virtual devices of each VIOS within the VIOS cluster to prior state; and restoring the shared VIOS database with the backed-up cluster data.

Abstract: A file system driver stored in a computational device receives a request to provide access to a snapshot of a rewritable file system at a selected point in time, wherein a plurality of tokens corresponding to a plurality of data units are stored in the rewritable file system, and wherein an ordering relationship is maintained among the plurality of tokens. The file system driver determines a token corresponding to the selected point in time based on the ordering relationship. A virtual subdirectory name is generated corresponding to the determined token. A virtual subdirectory is created with the generated virtual subdirectory name, wherein the virtual subdirectory is a subdirectory of a root directory. The snapshot is accessed via the subdirectory.

Abstract: A computer method and a system for detecting the file type of an electronic file, the method including the steps of: (a) using a predetermined number of bytes at the beginning of the file to create a list of probable file types; (b) testing the file against a detection rule for each file type in the list until a match is found; if no match is found (c) testing the file against other known detection rules for file types to find a match.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating manipulation of virtualized storage volumes and/or file systems of one or more different types of operating systems (OSs) implemented on distributed computer systems. According to embodiments, various aspects may be directed to different embodiments of virtualized filer appliances and/or filer applications which may be used for facilitating manipulation of virtualized storage volumes and/or file systems of one or more different types of operating systems (OSs) implemented on distributed computer systems. In at least one embodiment, a filer appliance may be implemented as a virtual appliance that includes functionality for performing automated file-level and/or volume-level operations for a selected set of file systems. In one embodiment, a filer appliance may be implemented as a virtual machine which is configured or designed to handle managing of one or more volumes.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed to closely integrating functionality between an internet server and a WebDAV tool. Areas of specific focus in this document include delegation of duties between the internet server and the WebDAV tool, efficient management of a resource's content-type, support for segregation of a namespace into separate virtual roots, and determinations of whether to invoke certain processing extensions to handle requests for a given HTTP verb.

Abstract: A file system driver stored in a computational device receives a request to provide access to a snapshot of a rewritable file system at a selected point in time, wherein a plurality of tokens corresponding to a plurality of data units are stored in the rewritable file system, and wherein an ordering relationship is maintained among the plurality of tokens. The file system driver determines a token corresponding to the selected point in time based on the ordering relationship. A virtual subdirectory name is generated corresponding to the determined token. A virtual subdirectory is created with the generated virtual subdirectory name, wherein the virtual subdirectory is a subdirectory of a root directory. The snapshot is accessed via the subdirectory.

Abstract: The different illustrative embodiments provide a method, computer program product, and apparatus for converting a first image for a virtual machine formatted for a first virtual environment. A second image is created, wherein the second image is non-specific to any virtual environment. A determination is made whether a portion of files to be copied from the first virtual image to the second virtual image should be replaced using a compatibility matrix, wherein the compatibility matrix identifies changes between the first virtual environment and a second virtual environment. A replacement for the portion of the files is copied to the second image using the compatibility matrix responsive to a determination that the portion of the files in the set of files should be replaced. The file is copied to the second image responsive to an absence of a determination that the each file in the set of files should be replaced.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for performing a security or maintenance operation in association with virtual disk data accessed independent of a virtual machine. In use, data stored on a virtual disk is accessed at least in part independent of a virtual machine. Further, a security or maintenance operation is performed in association with the accessed data.

Abstract: Techniques for storing electronic documents include defining multiple logical storage locations, with each logical storage location corresponding to a respective first set of data parameters, and storing electronic documents in the logical storage locations. Each electronic document is stored in a logical storage location having a particular corresponding first set of data parameters. The particular corresponding first set of data parameters is associated with the electronic document, and the electronic document is indexed within the logical storage location based on a second set of data parameters.

Abstract: A system which includes at least one client, a plurality of file servers, each having a file system, and a switch logically arranged between the client and the plurality of file servers to provide file access services which virtually render the plurality of file systems accessible as a single file system, termed a ‘pseudo file system’, when viewed from the terminal. The switch distributes a command that starts generation of snapshots to the plurality of file servers, which file servers formulate respective snapshots responsive to the command that starts formation of the snapshots. The switch sets the plurality of snapshots, generated by the plurality of file servers, so as to be associated with the file system structure of the virtual file system at the time of formation of the snapshots.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for automatically restoring links to a directory service's object when that object is restored from backup are disclosed. One method involves receiving user input selecting an individual directory service object for restoration from backup; restoring the directory service object from the backup; and automatically creating a forward link to the directory service object from a source object. The need to restore the forward link can be detected by either finding the forward link in a copy of the link table within the backup or finding a corresponding backward link in an attribute of a backed-up copy of the directory service object.

Abstract: A mechanism for unioning file systems using fall-through directory entries is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving a request to open a directory of a union file system, processing directory entries of the directory for whiteouts and duplicates, copying the processed directory entries to disk storage, and flagging the copied entries from a lower level file system as fall-through entries.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of processing an update operation in a directory system having a reference layer having directory functionality and a supplemental layer operative intermediate the reference layer and a user is provided. The supplemental layer comprises a non-persistent store. The method includes receiving the update operation the update operation having an associated attribute and determining whether the attribute associated with the update operation is stored in the non-persistent store.

Abstract: A host server hosting one or more virtual machines can back up host volumes and the one or more virtual machines installed thereon in an application-consistent manner. In one implementation, a host-level requestor instructs a host-level writer to identify which virtual machines qualify for application-consistent backups. The host-level requestor then instructs the host-level writer to initiate virtual machine backups through guest-level requesters in each appropriately-configured virtual machine, wherein the virtual machines create application-consistent backups within the virtual machine volumes. The host-level requester then initiates snapshots of the server volumes on the host-level. The virtual machine-level snapshots can thus be retrieved from within the host-level snapshots of the server volumes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention a method of updating schema in a directory system having a reference layer adapted to provide directory functionality and an intermediate layer adapted to provide supplemental directory functionality is provided. The intermediate layer is provided between the reference layer and the client is provided. The method includes determining that a new attribute type is not defined in a schema associated with the system, and in response, registering the new attribute type in the schema.

Abstract: A file management apparatus that communicates with an online storage subject to use constraints. The file management apparatus including a processor that controls at least one of two access processes, one of the two access processes being an upload to the online storage, the other access process being a download from the online storage, and performs access inhibit control to inhibit the access processes to meet the use constraints based on at least one of a number of times access is made to the online storage per unit time and an amount of data communicated with the online storage per unit time.

Abstract: A computer file management system allowing at least one of one file (F1) and/or one directory (D3) to belong to two or more directories (D1, D2). The file management system is characterized in that a file or directory specified by an operator of the computer or the program operating on the computer as an object to be operated has all the directories present on the directory path as parent directories. This system is a novel file management system capable of classifying/organizing files and directories more easily and naturally in the conventional system without requiring additional operation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising specifying a landscape definition, the landscape definition specifying a plurality of different servers to be instantiated on a cloud computing system, wherein the plurality of servers are operable to work together as a single logical entity, the landscape definition further specifying dependencies between the servers, and wherein each server in the landscape definition is stored as an image on the cloud computing system, each image including information for instantiating a corresponding server on the cloud computing system and instantiating the plurality of servers on the cloud computing system using the landscape definition.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently utilizing endpoint virtualization information during backup operations. A computer system includes a backup server that permits the identification, browsing and selecting of files within virtual layers. Examples of virtual layers comprise at least a user data layer, an applications layer, and an operating system layer. Backup messages are sent to a corresponding client computer to backup the selected files or layers. The client computer includes a virtualization agent configured to manage one or more virtual layers in the client. In response to determining the selected data corresponds to a virtual layer of the one or more virtual layers, a backup agent in the client is configured to communicate with the virtualization agent in order to identify one or more files that correspond to the virtual layer, retrieve the one or more files, and send the one or more files to the backup server.

Abstract: Techniques for establishing a files system that exposes a virtual file system for backup operations are presented. Changes to files of a file system are maintained separately or collected and presented as a VFS. The VFS is then used to perform backup operations. Moreover, the files identified in the VFS can be customized based on search parameters, criterion, and/or criteria supplied by a user or supplied as parameters to backup and VFS mount operations.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a local storage in which a virtual file system is created, the virtual file system supporting an information recording medium on which encrypted content on which an encryption process has been performed is recorded, the encrypted content being managed for each of content management units serving as content use management units, and on which content management units used by the encrypted content are set; and a playback unit configured to read and play back the encrypted content managed by the content management units used by the encrypted content by using the virtual file system created in the local storage, configured to receive a data distribution file set for linking other information with the encrypted content of the information recording medium, the encrypted content being distributed from an information distribution server, and configured to update the virtual file system using the received data distribution file set.

Abstract: The patent describes a single location and application on a network where a user can organize public, group, and private/personal information and have this single, location accessible to the public. A new, ontology-driven portal that organizes all three categories of data according to various “facets” using underlying ontologies to define each “facet” and wherein any type of information can be classified and linked to other types of information is disclosed. An application that enables a user to effectively utilize and manage knowledge and data the user posses and allows other users to effectively and seamlessly benefit from the user's knowledge and data over a computer network is also disclosed. A method of processing content created by a user utilizing a semantic, ontology-driven portal on a computer network is described. The semantic portal application provides the user with a content base, such as a semantic form or meta-form, for creating a semantic posting.

Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of efficiently operating files and directories that are stored in storage located in a physically far place from a file server, without causing a network latency. An index creation program is also loaded in a cloud computing environment, and a flag, which indicates whether or not to execute batch processing to a directory that has been migrated to the cloud side, is provided, whereby it becomes possible to collectively execute index creation processing for the migrated directory on the cloud side. More specifically, upon completion of migration of all files under a given directory to the cloud side, a flag, which indicates whether or not to perform batch processing on the cloud side, is validated for the metadata of the directory. Such a batch processing flag can be held for each application such as applications of the index creation processing and the virus check processing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods, apparatuses and program storage devices providing a mechanism in which a file system and copy command (or file transfer command) allows the start of a copy operation when a file is being copied to and allow the system to continue to read the file as and when it gets updated (appended with additional data), thus permitting automated simultaneous file transfer and copy operations.

Abstract: A consistent snapshot of a large main memory knowledge base is saved to persistent storage without blocking the application for the duration of serializing and writing the knowledge base. Taking the snapshot comprises bringing the knowledge base to a consistent state (in a multithreaded application), using virtual memory facilities to obtain a copy-on-write copy of the knowledge base in memory, and using a separate thread or process to serialize the copy-on-write copy to persistent storage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for storing data. In one aspect, a method includes detecting at a kernel a plurality of operations, each of a particular type from a plurality of types, to be performed on a respective data item; and generating respective entries in a delta store in response to the detected plurality of operations wherein each entry for a data item includes a marker attribute corresponding to the operation type of the plurality of types.

Abstract: A hardware-based file system includes multiple linked sub-modules that perform functions ancillary to client data handling. Each sub-module is associated with a metadata cache. A doubly-rooted structure is used to store each file system object at successive checkpoints. Metadata is stored within an object and/or as a separate object. Provisions are made for allocating sparse objects. A delayed write feature is used for writing certain objects into non-volatile storage. Checkpoints can be retained as read-only versions of the file system. Modifications to the file system are accomplished without affecting the contents of retained checkpoints. The file system can be reverted to a retained checkpoint. Multiple file servers can be interconnected as a cluster, and each file server stores requests from another file server. Interconnections between file servers can be dynamically modified. A distributed locking mechanism is used to control access to file system objects stored by the file servers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a file management system and method, and a storage system that can prevent file-multiplexing in a storage apparatus, and efficiently use the storage capacity of the storage apparatus. The storage apparatus stores first management information for managing two or more kinds of classification list, each classification list including one or more keywords, and second management information for managing the kinds of classification list set for each of one or more users with regard to each of one or more tiers of their respective virtual file trees; and sends, in response to a request from a client apparatus to search the classification lists for a classification list set for a directory, the classification list set for the relevant user with regard to the tier matching the request to the client apparatus with reference to the first and second management information.

Abstract: A database management system implemented in a cloud computing environment. Operational nodes are assigned as groups of controller-nodes, compute-nodes or storage-nodes. Queries specify one or more tables for an associated database operation, with each table being assigned to respective storage nodegroup(s). The number of nodes executing a given query may change, by (a) changing the compute-nodes associated with a connection, or (b) adding or removing nodes associated with a connection; and/or distributing data to a storage nodegroup based on a Distribution Method which may be either data dependent or data independent. A controller node further executes a Dynamic Query Planner (DQP) process that develops a query plan.

Abstract: Multiple files in a versioned file system are grouped to form a fusion unit on a server. The fusion unit is exposed to a client as a browsable folder having separate files. When the server receives an indication of a change to file belonging to the fusion unit, the server determines whether the change to the file causes a conflict on the fusion unit. If the change does cause a conflict, then the conflict is reported; otherwise the fusion unit is updated to incorporate the change.

Abstract: A system and method for virtualizing networked heterogeneous storage devices in a computing system using stateless servers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes self discovery of mapping information between a plurality of virtual file systems to a plurality of physical file systems upon startup by a virtual data store (VDS) server. The networked heterogeneous storage devices include the plurality of physical file systems hosted on associated file servers. Further, each physical file system includes a storage space in which a plurality of data files may be stored.

Abstract: A method and system for reading data from a non-volatile mass storage device is provided. The method includes, performing logical configuration for the non-volatile mass storage device, wherein file data is allocated addresses in a virtual logical address space; and data identified by virtual logical addresses is read by a host system. The system includes a file storage segment that reads and writes data on a file-by-file basis, allowing a host system to access data from the non-volatile mass storage device using a file interface format; and a logical interface segment that allows the host system to access data using logical addressing, wherein the host system is unaware of a storage format under which data is stored on a file-by-file basis.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a standardized interpretive engine is provided. The method includes externalizing at least one of a business and a user requirement into a component class of a data control structure. The method also includes defining a solution to the business and user requirement and entering the solution into metadata within the component class. The method further includes pulling data from a data warehouse into the component class based upon the business and user requirement. The method also includes performing a calculation on the data in accordance with the business and a user requirement.

Abstract: A system and a method for locating data in a physical storage volume using a unified file system, which includes a synthetic file system structure and a physical file system structure, is disclosed. Traversing the synthetic portion of the unified file system includes querying at least one user-mode database that defines the synthetic portion. The physical portion of the unified file system can be traversed to determine volume and connection information for the requested data.

Abstract: The present invention involves creating an attribute in a directory and having a system provide attribute values for data that changes rapidly with a speed high enough to satisfy real-time requirements. The present invention calculates values rather than storing them for each attribute of an object class instance. It provides “virtual attributes” and using them in Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC). The resulting Virtual Attribute Based Access Control (VABAC) system allows a Policy Decision Point (PDP) to make better informed decisions based on information that results from metrics, statistics, or data from some outside system. Given virtual attributes, the PDPs can make access decisions based on things like reputation, skill level, trust level, organizational structure, etc.

Abstract: A slice server includes a network port, a central processing unit, and memory. The central processing unit (CPU) is operable to receive, via the network port, a request to access a virtual digital data storage vault. The CPU then determines whether the slice server supports the virtual digital data storage vault. When the slice server supports the virtual digital data storage vault, the CPU determines whether the request is valid. When the request is valid, the CPU executes the request to generate a response.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system performs a method for providing repository item information from one or more different perspectives using virtual repository items within a customizable presentation scheme. A computer system accesses a user-defined presentation scheme that describes a manner in which repository items are to be presented. The computer system generates virtual repository items for actual repository items based on the user-defined presentation scheme. The virtual repository items are generated for presentation along with their actual repository items. The computer system maps the virtual repository items to different virtualized sets of repository items according to the user-defined presentation scheme. The virtualized sets comprise at least one of actual repository items and virtual repository items. The computer system presents the virtualized sets of repository items in one or more different perspectives within the user-defined presentation scheme.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for preserving a virtual file system. Data for a virtual file system is received. The data include file handle information, vnode information, and gnode information. The data is saved to a storage device. The saved data can be used to reconstruct the virtual file system upon changeover between a primary data processing system and a backup data processing system.

Abstract: The present invention may comprise a system and method for a Virtual Attribute Federation System (VAFS) and may be composed of a Virtual Attribute Federation Manager (VAFM) and a system of Virtual Attribute Enabled Directories (VAED) modified to accept federation of virtual attributes. The VAFM produces signed and trusted calculation methods and coordinates a synchronized dispersal of these methods to the VAEDs. The VAEDs may have local mappings which allow for federation-time configuration of the calculation methods.

Abstract: A similar image retrieving device (1) comprises: an image database (21) for storage of sets of image data, and sets of keywords each associated with a corresponding image data; a cluster classification section (11) to read the sets of image data, provide a respective one of the sets of image data with a compatibility value as an index representative of a set of compatibilities of a corresponding one of the sets of keywords, and classify the sets of image data into clusters thereof in accordance with the compatibility value; an optimum cluster extracting section (12) to provide the set of query image data with a compatibility value, and select one of clusters to which the query image data is to belong to minimize an error caused in a Projection onto Convex Sets using the clusters; and a similar image extracting section (13) to output, as a similar image, a set of image data provided a close compatibility value, among the sets of image data belonging to the cluster selected by the optimum cluster extractor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide, among other things, an improved system and method for building logical associations (links) between files and for assigning attributes to the files and/or links. In embodiments of the invention, such attribute data is indexed in a data store according to Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) in each file header.

Abstract: Provided is a method for implementing a file system that includes a combination of read-only and read/write parts. A file system located on a data server maintains an original copy of a data store. An “Ephemeral” file system (EFS) is created on a client computer. The data server is contacted only once for each file accessed and the copy is in an original state each time the system is mounted. Changes made to the file system by one client are not seen by other clients. The EFS maintains the file system state in memory and uses the NFS server as a backing stored for cached file data. File data for files created on the client are backed up by the client system's swapping space.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) module provides access to data, independent of filesystem implementation in a non-privileged user mode. A discovery volume having a filesystem recognizable by an operating system has cover files which prevent damage to data stored in an unrecognizable primary volume. The discovery volume also includes a data access API available for execution in a non-privileged user mode to render the primary volume accessible by operating systems which would otherwise find the primary volume unrecognizable.

Abstract: Provided is a computer system configured so that security compliance problems can be avoided and an access control model which can be uniquely customized can be implemented by extending the storage capacity to an external storage service by means of integrated management of an existing NAS(s) and the external storage service, and controlling the optimum data placement according to the confidentiality and importance level of data. In a computer system according to this invention, a local storage system includes an extended server for integrating a NAS(s) existing in the local storage system with an external storage service and thereby providing a client with a storage area as a single virtual NAS.