Connection switching apparatus and file system using connection switching apparatus

A system for writing a file to and reading a file from a plurality of file servers using a connection switching apparatus, the system comprising:

• a client;
• a plurality of file servers configured to store and access a file in response to a file operation command from the client;
• and
• a connection switching apparatus in communication with the client and the plurality of file servers and configured to duplicate the file operation command from the client and send the duplicated file operation command to one of the plurality of file servers.

A system for writing a file to and reading a file from a plurality of file servers using a plurality of hierarchically structured connection switching apparatus, the system comprising:

• a client;
• a plurality of file servers configured to store and access a file in response to a file operation command from the client;
• a first connection switching apparatus in communication with the client and configured to duplicate the file operation command from the client and send the duplicated file operation command to a second connection switching apparatus;
• and
• the second connection switching apparatus configured to duplicate the file operation command from the first connection switching apparatus and send the duplicated file operation command to one of the plurality of file servers.

A process for writing a file to and reading a file from a plurality of file servers using a connection switching apparatus, the process comprising:

• processing a file operation command that is associated with the file;
• duplicating the file operation command according to the quantity of the plurality of file servers;
• sending, according to a switching order, the file operation command to one of the plurality of file servers;
• and
• storing a program for processing the file operation command.

A process for writing a file to and reading a file from a plurality of file servers using a connection switching apparatus, the process comprising:

• communicating with a client computer via the communication packet over a communication channel;
• processing a file operation command that is associated with the file;
• duplicating the file operation command according to the quantity of the plurality of file servers;
• setting and storing a switching order;
• sending, according to the switching order, the file operation command to one of the plurality of file servers;
• appending an indicating code to the name of the file in one of the plurality of file servers that is designated as a leading file server;
• storing a mapping table that includes a file identifier that corresponds to the file and a file server address that indicates the location of the file on one of the plurality of file servers;
• and
• storing a program for processing the file operation command.

A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a process for writing a file to and reading a file from a plurality of file servers using a connection switching apparatus, the process comprising:

• processing a file operation command that is associated with the file;
• duplicating the file operation command according to the quantity of the plurality of file servers;
• sending, according to a switching order, the file operation command to one of the plurality of file servers;
• and
• storing a program for processing the file operation command.

An apparatus for writing a file to and reading a file from a plurality of file servers using a connection switching apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• means for communicating with a client computer via the communication packet over a communication channel;
• means for processing a file operation command that is associated with the file;
• means for duplicating the file operation command according to the quantity of the plurality of file servers;
• means for setting and storing a switching order;
• means for sending, according to the switching order, the file operation command to one of the plurality of file servers;
• means for appending an indicating code to the name of the file in one of the plurality of file servers that is designated as a leading file server;
• means for storing a mapping table that includes a file identifier that corresponds to the file and a file server address that indicates the location of the file on one of the plurality of file servers;
• and
• means for storing a file operation command processing program.