Method and apparatus for virtualization of a file system, data storage system for virtualization of a file system, and file server for use in a data storage system

An apparatus being connectable to a computer and another apparatus,

• the apparatus being configured to manage a first file system and to create a first structure information of the first file system linking between at least one first parent directory and one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory based on a second structure information of a second file system received from the other apparatus, the second structure information linking between at least one second parent directory and one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory existing in the second file system managed by the other apparatus, the second parent directory being associated with the first parent directory and the one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory being associated with the one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory,
• wherein, during creating the first structure information of the first file system, the apparatus is further configured to change a first status of the at least one first parent directory of the first structure information of the first file system based on creating metadata of the one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory in the first structure information of the first file system, the metadata of the one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory being created based on metadata of the respective associated one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory of the second structure information of the second file system received from the other apparatus.

A data storage system comprising an apparatus and another apparatus, the apparatus being connectable to a computer and the other apparatus,

• the apparatus being configured to manage a first file system and to create a first structure information of the first file system linking between at least one first parent directory and one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory based on a second structure information of a second file system received from the other apparatus, the second structure information linking between at least one second parent directory and one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory existing in the second file system managed by the other apparatus, the second parent directory being associated with the first parent directory and the one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory being associated with the one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory,
• wherein, during creating the first structure information of the first file system, the apparatus is further configured to change a first status of the at least one first parent directory of the first structure information of the first file system based on creating metadata of the one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory in the first structure information of the first file system, the metadata of the one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory being created based on metadata of the respective associated one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory of the second structure information of the second file system received from the other apparatus.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer program code adapted to cause an apparatus, which is connectable to a computer and another apparatus and managing a first file system, to execute the steps of:

• creating a first structure information of the first file system linking between at least one first parent directory and one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory based on a second structure information of a second file system received from the other apparatus, the second structure information linking between at least one second parent directory and one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory existing in the second file system managed by the other apparatus, the second parent directory being associated with the first parent directory and the one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory being associated with the one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory, and
• changing, during creating the first structure information of the first file system, a first status of the at least one first parent directory of the first structure information of the first file system based on creating metadata of the one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory of the first structure information of the first file system, the metadata of the one or more first child file system objects of the first parent directory being created based on metadata of the respective associated one or more second child file system objects of the second parent directory of the second structure information of the second file system received from the other apparatus.