US6101508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clustered file management for network resources
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1998-04-15
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Granted: 2000-08-08
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Expires: 2018-04-15
Abstract
Abstract Methods for operating a network as a clustered file system is disclosed. The methods involve client load rebalancing, distributed Input and Output (I/O) and resource load rebalancing. Client load rebalancing refers to the ability of a client enabled with processes in accordance with the current invention to remap a path through a plurality of nodes to a resource. Distributed I/O refers to the methods on the network which provide concurrent input/output through a plurality of nodes to resources. Resource rebalancing includes remapping of pathways between nodes, e.g. servers, and resources, e.g. volumes/file systems. The network includes client nodes, server nodes and resources. Each of the resources couples to at least two of the server nodes. The method for operating comprising the acts of: redirecting an I/O request for a resource from a first server node coupled to the resource to a second server node coupled to the resource; and splitting the I/O request at the second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server nodes subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the corresponding administrative server node a data transfer for the resource. In an alternate embodiment of the invention the methods may additionally include the acts of: detecting a change in an availability of the server nodes; and rebalancing the network by applying a load balancing function to the network to re-assign each of the available resources to a corresponding available administrative server node responsive to the detecting act.
Inventors
- 👤 James J. Wolff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/52; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/18; G06F16/182; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1001; H04L67/1004; H04L67/1008; H04L67/1017; H04L67/1019; H04L67/1031; H04L67/1034; H04L67/1012; H04L67/1029; H04L69/00; H04L69/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the method for operating comprising the acts of: redirecting an I/O request for a resource from a first server node coupled to the resource to a second server node coupled to the resource; and splitting the I/O request at the second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the corresponding administrative server node a data transfer for the resource.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the method for operating comprising the acts of: redirecting an I/O request for a resource from a first server node coupled to the resource to a second server node coupled to the resource; and splitting the I/O request at the second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the corresponding administrative server node a data transfer for the resource.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of: detecting a change in an availability of the server nodes; and rebalancing the network by applying a load balancing function to the network to re-assign each of the available resources to a corresponding available administrative server node responsive to the detecting act.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the rebalancing act further comprises the acts of: applying the load balancing function to the network based on one or more attributes of the server nodes and the resources, responsive to said detecting act; and assigning based on a result of the load balancing function each of the resources to a corresponding available administrative server among the plurality of server nodes, responsive to said applying act.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the balancing act further comprises the acts of: assigning weights to at least one of: the server nodes, the resources, and the server nodes together with the resources; and allocating the plurality of resources to available ones of the server nodes on the basis of the weights assigned in said assigning act.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the balancing act further comprises the acts of: assigning for each of the resources a corresponding one of the available server nodes to act as preferred administrative nodes which control access to the resources; and allocating each of the resources to available ones of the server nodes on the basis of availability and the preferred administrative server node assigned in said assigning act.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the I/O request originates at one of a client node and a server node.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the redirecting act further comprises the acts of: receiving at the first server node the I/O request for the resource; determining whether the first server node is overutilized; and re-directing the subsequent I/O requests to the second server in response to an affirmative determination in the determining act.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the determining act further comprising the act of: determining whether the second server node is underutilized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the redirecting act further comprises the acts of: sending a command to an originator of the I/O request to pass subsequent I/O requests to an other of the server nodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the re-directing act further comprises the act of: commanding an originator of the I/O request to pass the request to a selected one of the server nodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the splitting act further comprises the acts of: receiving at the second server node the I/O request for a data set located on the resource; sending from the second server node to the corresponding administrative server an access request for a location of the data set on the resource; receiving at the second server node the access grant from the corresponding administrative server in the form of a list listing the location of the data set on the resource; and completing at the second server node a data transfer of the data set at the location on the resource listed in the list received in said receiving act.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the splitting act further comprises the acts of: receiving at the corresponding administrative server an access request from the second server node for the location of a data set on the resource; identifying the location of the data set on the resource in response to the receiving act; and sending the access grant in the form of a list listing the location of the data set on the resource from the corresponding administrative server to the second server node.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the method for operating comprising the acts of: redirecting an I/O request for a resource to an underutilized one of the server nodes coupled to the resource; and splitting the I/O request at the underutilized one of the server nodes into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource and completing at the underutilized one of the server nodes subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the administrative server node a data transfer for the resource responsive to the redirecting act.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the method for operating comprising the acts of: redirecting an I/O request for a resource to an underutilized one of the server nodes coupled to the resource; and splitting the I/O request at the underutilized one of the server nodes into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource and completing at the underutilized one of the server nodes subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the administrative server node a data transfer for the resource responsive to the redirecting act.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the acts of: detecting a change in an availability of the server nodes; and rebalancing the network by applying a load balancing function to the network to re-assign each of the available resources to a corresponding available administrative server node responsive to the detecting act.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the method for operating comprising the acts of: splitting the I/O request at a second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the corresponding administrative server node a data transfer for the resource.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the method for operating comprising the acts of: splitting the I/O request at a second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the corresponding administrative server node a data transfer for the resource.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of: redirecting an I/O requests for a resource to an underutilized one of the server nodes coupled to the resource.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of: detecting a change in an availability of the server nodes; and rebalancing the network by applying a load balancing function to the network to re-assign each of the available resources to a corresponding available administrative server node responsive to the detecting act.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code means for redirecting an I/O request for a resource from a first server node coupled to a resource to a second server node coupled to the resource; computer readable program code means for splitting the I/O request at the second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the administrative server node a data transfer for the resource responsive to the redirecting act.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code means for redirecting an I/O request for a resource from a first server node coupled to a resource to a second server node coupled to the resource; computer readable program code means for splitting the I/O request at the second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the administrative server node a data transfer for the resource responsive to the redirecting act.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code means for splitting the I/O request at a second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the administrative server node a data transfer for the resource.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for operating a network including client nodes, server nodes and resources and each of the resources coupled to at least two of the server nodes, and the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code means for splitting the I/O request at a second server node into an access portion and a data transfer portion and passing the access portion to a corresponding administrative server node for the resource, and completing at the second server node subsequent to receipt of an access grant from the administrative server node a data transfer for the resource.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |