Role mutable file system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Traff, Jim C. Chen, Margaret R. Fenlon, Charles L. Emig, II, Justin C. Nelson, Shuang Hong Wang
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Abstract
A role mutable file system provides high availability processing of network requests with systems that can seamlessly switch between server and client operational roles. The file system includes a replicated storage pool associated with each server/client system where only the storage pool of the system in the server role is active. A role mutable file system (RMFS) manager on each system seamlessly switches roles between server and client to service network requests from either system to prevent interruption of service to system users.
Claims15
A computer apparatus comprising:
- a first computer system with a first processor, a first memory coupled to the first processor, a first role mutable file system (RMFS) manager residing in the first memory and executed by the first processor, wherein the first computer system is connected to a first storage pool;
- a second computer system with a second processor, a second memory coupled to the second processor, a second role mutable file system (RMFS) manager residing in the second memory and executed by the second processor, wherein the second computer system is connected to a second storage pool that is a replicated copy of the first storage pool, wherein the second RMFS manager communicates with the first RMFS manager through a communication link;
- in an initial state the first RMFS manager performs in a server role to respond to file service requests from a first application in the first memory and to respond to file service requests from a second application in the second memory where file service requests from the second application come through the second RMFS manager in a client role, wherein the first RMFS manager services the file service requests with data from the first storage pool that is active while the second storage pool is inactive in the initial state;
- and
- upon detecting one of a plurality of events, the first RMFS manager and the second RMFS manager mutate to a second state, wherein the first RMFS manager mutates to the client role, the second RMFS manager mutates to the server role to respond to file service requests from the second application on the second computer system and to respond to file service requests from the first applications on the first computer system through the first RMFS manager now in the client role, wherein the first storage pool is made inactive and the second storage pool is made active in the second state.
A computer-implemented method executed by at least one processor that provides high availability processing of network requests for a role mutable file system comprising:
- monitoring the system for mutation events;
- in response to a detected event, mutating the role mutable file system by switching a first role mutable file system (RMFS) manager on a first system from a server role to a client role and switching a second role mutable file system (RMFS) manager on a second system from the client role to the server role;
- wherein the second RMFS manager communicates with the first RMFS manager through a communication link;
- wherein mutating the role mutable file system further comprises:
- receiving a signal to mutate the RMFS;
- handling in-flight operations;
- issuing a stop lock to halt operations;
- inactivating storage pools while keeping mount structures;
- instructing the first and second RMFS managers to change internal states;
- refreshing the communication network;
- activating the storage pools;
- communicating with the system that the first and second RMFS managers are ready;
- and
- releasing the stop lock.
A computer-implemented method executed by at least one processor that provides high availability processing of network requests for a role mutable file system comprising:
- monitoring the system for mutation events;
- in response to a detected mutation event, mutating the role mutable file system by switching a first role mutable file system (RMFS) manager on a first system from a server role to a client role and switching a second role mutable file system (RMFS) manager on a second system from the client role to the server role;
- wherein the second RMFS manager communicates with the first RMFS manager through a communication link;
- wherein mutating the role mutable file system further comprises:
- receiving a signal to mutate the RMFS;
- handling in-flight operations;
- issuing a stop lock to halt operations;
- inactivating storage pools while keeping mount structures;
- instructing the first and second RMFS managers to change internal states;
- process individual object structures to reflect mutation the role by changing an object structure that indicates RMFS type from “client” to “server”;
- refreshing the communication network in second state;
- activating the storage pools;
- communicating with the system that the first and second RMFS managers are ready;
- releasing the stop lock;
- and
- completing in-flight operations held at boundary points.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.