Administration through files in a storage system

A plurality of storage nodes in a single chassis, comprising:

• the plurality of storage nodes configurable to communicate together as a storage cluster;
• each of the plurality of storage nodes having nonvolatile solid-state memory configurable to store files in accordance with a filesystem;
• the plurality of storage nodes configurable to distribute the files and metadata associated with the files throughout the plurality of storage nodes such that the plurality of storage nodes maintain ability to read the files, using erasure coding, despite a loss of two of the plurality of storage nodes;
• the plurality of storage nodes configurable to determine whether a filename of a file in a command for writing the file to, or reading the file from, the plurality of storage nodes has in the filename a reserved word that indicates the filename is a reserved filename belonging to a namespace that defines filenames and defines reserved filenames that trigger administrative actions comprising at least one of:
• performing a snapshot, performing a virus check, performing a file backup, performing a file difference summary, generating a report, performing an audit, expiring obsolete data, configuring export points, or culling files;
• and
• the plurality of storage nodes configurable to initiate an administrative action directed by the reserved word, responsive to determining the filename has the reserved word in the filename.

A storage cluster, comprising:

• a plurality of storage nodes within a single chassis;
• each of the plurality of storage nodes having nonvolatile solid-state memory configurable for file storage per a filesystem;
• the plurality of storage nodes configurable to distribute user data and metadata associated with the user data throughout the plurality of storage nodes such that the plurality of storage nodes can access the user data, via erasure coding, with a failure of two of the plurality of storage nodes;
• and
• at least one of the plurality of storage nodes having:
• a pathname resolution unit configurable to resolve a pathname for a file and to determine whether a reserved name from a filename namespace defining filenames and reserved names is in a filename of the file, responsive to receiving a command to write the file or to read the file;
• and
• a filesystem processing unit configurable to initiate an administrative action directed by the reserved name, responsive to determining the reserved name from the filename namespace is in the filename, wherein the reserved names trigger administrative actions comprising at least one of:
• performing a snapshot, performing a virus check, performing a file backup, performing a file difference summary, generating a report, performing an audit, expiring obsolete data, configuring export points, or culling files.