Method, apparatus and computer program product for file system referrals

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a file system coupled to a number of file systems;
• a memory storing instructions operable with the processor for accessing the number of file systems, the instructions being executed for:
• creating a referring file system attribute of a data element, responsive to a first one of the file systems having a first referral object referring to a second one of the file systems, the referring file system attribute describing a first referring file system identification for the first one of the file systems;
• creating a path attribute of the data element, responsive to the first one of the file systems having the first referral object, the path attribute describing a first path information for the first referral object, wherein the first one of the file systems has a root and the first path information is for a path from the first one of the file systems root to the first referral object;
• creating a referred file system attribute of the data element, responsive to the first file system having the first referral object, the first referred file system attribute describing a first referred file system identification for the second one of the file systems;
• and
• creating a parent attribute of the data element, responsive to the first file system having the first referral object, the parent attribute describing a first parent flag for the second one of the file systems.

A computer program product for use in making a number of file systems accessible, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform:

• creating a referring file system attribute of a data element, responsive to a first one of the file systems having a first referral object referring to a second one of the file systems, the referring file system attribute describing a first referring file system identification for the first one of the file systems;
• creating a path attribute of the data element, responsive to the first one of the file systems having the first referral object, the path attribute describing a first path information for the first referral object, wherein the first one of the file systems has a root and the first path information is for a path from the first one of the file systems root to the first referral object;
• creating a referred file system attribute of the data element, responsive to the first file system having the first referral object, the first referred file system attribute describing a first referred file system identification for the second one of the file systems;
• and
• creating a parent attribute of the data element, responsive to the first file system having the first referral object, the parent attribute describing a first parent flag for the second one of the file systems.

An apparatus for making a number of file systems accessible, the apparatus comprising:

• means for creating a referring file system attribute of a data element, responsive to a first one of the file systems having a first referral object referring to a second one of the file systems, the referring file system attribute describing a first referring file system identification for the first one of the file systems;
• means for creating a path attribute of the data element, responsive to the first one of the file systems having the first referral object, the path attribute describing a first path information for the first referral object, wherein the first one of the file systems has a root and the first path information is for a path from the first one of the file systems root to the first referral object;
• means for creating a referred file system attribute of the data element, responsive to the first file system having the first referral object, the first referred file system attribute describing a first referred file system identification for the second one of the file systems;
• and
• means for creating a parent attribute of the data element, responsive to the first file system having the first referral object, the parent attribute describing a first parent flag for the second one of the file systems.