Unified file and object storage architecture for clustered file systems

A computer implemented method comprising:

• identifying a first directory in a unified file and object (UFO) storage system, the first directory being a root directory having a tree structure with one or more subdirectories organized in one or more levels, the first directory and each of the one or more subdirectories having an associated inode that stores metadata;
• identifying a leaf directory, the leaf directory being a subdirectory of the first directory, the leaf directory having no child directory;
• determining metadata attributes for the leaf directory;
• storing the metadata attributes for the leaf directory in the inode for the leaf directory;
• passing the metadata attributes for the leaf directory to a first parent directory, the first parent directory being the parent directory of the leaf directory;
• accumulating the metadata attributes for the leaf directory in the inode for the first parent directory;
• and
• determining whether the first parent directory is the first directory.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor in communication with the memory, the processor being configured to perform a method comprising:
• identifying a first directory in a unified file and object (UFO) storage system, the first directory having one or more subdirectories in one or more levels under the first directory, the one or more subdirectories including a second directory, the second directory having one or more objects, the first directory being associated with a first inode and the second directory being associated with a second inode;
• performing a stat call on the second directory to determine metadata attributes for the one or more objects, the metadata attributes for the one or more objects being stored in the second inode;
• and
• adding the metadata attributes for the one or more objects to the first inode.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• identifying, by the processor, a first directory in a unified file and object (UFO) storage system, the first directory having one or more subdirectories in one or more levels under the first directory, the one or more subdirectories including a second directory, the second directory having one or more objects, the first directory being associated with a first inode and the second directory being associated with a second inode;
• performing a stat call on the second directory to determine metadata attributes for the one or more objects, the metadata attributes for the one or more objects being stored in the second inode;
• and
• adding the metadata attributes for the one or more objects to the first inode.