Method of efficient backup of distributed file system files with transparent data access

A method comprising:

• receiving a request to back up a file in a distributed file system to cold storage;
• copying the file from at least one data node of the distributed file system to cold storage;
• setting a location of the file in cold storage in a name node of the distributed file system;
• and
• setting a length of the file to zero in the name node.

At least one machine readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that in response to being executed by a system at a computing platform, cause the system to:

• receive a request to back up a file in a distributed file system to cold storage;
• copy the file from at least one data node of the distributed file system to cold storage;
• set a location of the file in cold storage in a name node of the distributed file system;
• and
• set a length of the file to zero in the name node.

An apparatus comprising:

• circuitry;
• and
• logic for execution by the circuitry to:
• receive a request to retrieve a file in a distributed file system from a requester;
• get a length of the file from a name node of the distributed file system;
• get the file from at least one data node of the distributed file system when the file length is not zero,
• get a location of the file in a cold storage of a cold storage node of the distributed file system from the name node and get the file from the cold storage when the file length is zero;
• and
• return the file to the requester.