Method and apparatus for distributing files on a file storage device

Apparatus for naming and storing a plurality of files distributed over a plurality of hierarchical directories in a file storage device, wherein each file of the plurality of files has a unique identifier, and wherein a path and name of each of the plurality of files is representative of the unique identifier associated with the file, comprising:

• means for forming a file name from at least one of the least significant characters of the unique identifier;
• means for determining a maximum desired size of a directory name that enables a desired access time;
• means for determining a remaining number of characters as the number of characters in the unique identifier less the number of characters used to form the file name;
• means for computing the minimum number of directory names of the maximum desired size or smaller that can be formed from the remaining number of characters;
• means for segmenting the remaining characters in the unique identifier into the minimum number of directory names, wherein the most significant characters are placed in the most significant directory names;
• means for forming a path from the directory names, wherein the most significant directory name has hierarchical precedence in the path;
• means for determining whether the path exists on the file storage device, and if not, creating directories necessary to create the path;
• means for storing the file on the file storage device under the file name in the directory corresponding to the path.

A method of naming and storing a plurality of files distributed over a plurality of hierarchical directories in a file storage device, wherein each of the plurality of files has a unique identifier, and wherein a path and a name of each of the plurality of files is representative of the unique identifier associated with the file, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a file name from at least one of the characters of the unique identifier;
• determining a maximum desired size of a directory name in the hierarchical directories that enables a desired access time;
• determining remaining characters of the unique identifier, the remaining characters comprising all of the characters of the unique identifier except for the at least one character used to form the file name;
• determining a number of characters in the remaining characters;
• computing a minimum number of directory names of the maximum desired size or smaller that can be formed from the number of characters;
• segmenting the remaining characters into the minimum number of directory names;
• forming a path from the directory names;
• storing the file on the file storage device under the file name in the directory corresponding to the path.