Object-level migration in a partition-based distributed file system

An apparatus for moving an object from a source partition server to a target partition server in a distributed file system having multiple partition servers, wherein each object has at least one associated and linked parent object, and each partition server owns a subset of objects of the file system, comprising:

• means for creating a copy in a target partition server of a selected object from a source partition server;
• means for establishing at the source partition server a forwarding link that references the copy in the target partition server;
• means for linking the copy to the parent object of the selected object;
• and
• means for responding to requests for access to the selected object with the forwarding link.

A computer-readable medium configured with computer program code for moving an object from a source partition server to a target partition server in a distributed file system having multiple partition servers, wherein each object has at least one associated and linked parent object, and each partition server owns a subset of objects of the file system, the computer program code configured to cause a computer to perform the steps comprising:

• creating a copy in a target partition server of a selected object from a source partition server;
• establishing at the source partition server a forwarding link that references the copy in the target partition server;
• linking the copy to the parent object of the selected object;
• and
• responding to requests for access to the selected object with the forwarding link.

A distributed file management system, comprising:

• a plurality of partition servers configured for ownership of a set of logical volumes of logically related file system objects, each partition server configured to control access to the set of logical volumes owned by the partition server, wherein each object has at least one associated and linked parent object;
• wherein one of the partition servers functions as a source partition server and another of the partition servers functions as a target partition server in response to a migration request that specifies migration of a selected object from the source partition server to the target partition server, and each of the partition servers is adapted to selectably function as a source partition server or a target partition server;
• wherein the target partition server is adapted to create a copy of the selected object from a source partition server, and link the copy to the parent object of the selected object;
• and
• wherein the source partition server is adapted to establish a forwarding link that references the copy in the target partition server, and respond to requests for access to the selected object with the forwarding link.