Method and system for managing distributed content and related metadata

A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

• create a new file system object;
• decompose the new file system object into a plurality of segments;
• generate a virtual storage capacity by storing individual segments of the plurality of segments on a plurality of servers in a network, wherein each server in the network stores a segment and is configured to have a virtual appearance that all of the segments are stored locally at the server;
• generate object metadata, wherein the object metadata is used to reconstruct the new file system object from the plurality of segments;
• and
• distribute the object metadata according to a set of distribution criteria that includes using specified regions in a network or size of the new file system object, wherein the distributing continues until the object metadata reaches a plurality of nodes in the network.

A system comprising:

• a distribution center;
• and
• a content management server (CMS) coupled with the distribution center, the CMS to
• create a new file system object,
• decompose the new file system object into a plurality of segments,
• generate a virtual storage capacity by storing individual segments of the plurality of segments on a plurality of servers in a network,
• wherein each server in the network stores a segment and is configured to have a virtual appearance that all of the segments are stored locally at the server,
• generate object metadata, wherein the object metadata is used to reconstruct the new file system object from the plurality of segments, and
• distribute the object metadata according to a set of distribution rules that include using specified regions in a network or size of the new file system object, wherein the CMS continues to distribute until the object metadata reaches a plurality of nodes in the network.