Distributed file system using disk servers, lock servers and file servers

A file system distributed over a plurality of computers connected by a network, the plurality of computers executing user programs, and the user programs accessing files stored on one or more physical disks connected to the plurality of computers, comprising:

• a plurality of disk servers operating as a single distributed disk server layer and connected to the one or more physical disks, each disk server storing meta-data for each of the files stored on the one or more disks;
• a plurality of lock servers, having at least one or more read locks and one or more write locks for each file stored on the one or more physical disks, said lock servers operating as a single distributed lock server to coordinate access to the files stored by the disk server layer;
• a plurality of asynchronous file servers, each having a memory, operating as a single distributed file server layer so that in response to a request for a file from a user program;
• and
• a management node, wherein the management node is configured to execute a management framework, framework plugins, and standalone programs/utilities related to management;
• the single distributed file layer;
• wherein, the distributed file system layer is configured to retrieve the requested file from the disk server layer and at least one lock, associated with the retrieved file, from the lock server in response to a request for a file from a user program;
• and
• is configured to retrieve meta-data for at least one file that is related to the requested files, and at least one lock, for each file that has had its meta-data retrieved, the at least one lock and meta-data being stored in the file server memory.

A file system distributed over a plurality of computers connected by a network, the plurality of computers executing user programs, and the user programs accessing files stored on one or more physical disks connected to the plurality of computers, comprising

• accessible storage connecting the plurality of computers to the one or more physical disks;
• a plurality of lock servers, having at least one or more read locks and one or more write locks for each file stored on the one or more physical disks, said lock servers operating as a single distributed lock server to coordinate access to the files stored on the disks;
• a plurality of asynchronous file servers, each having a memory, operating as a single distributed file server layer so that in the response to a request for a file from a user program, the single distributed file server layer
• is configured to retrieve the requested file from the disk via the accessible storage and at least one lock, associated with the retrieved file, from the lock server, and
• to retrieve meta-data for at least one file that is related to the requested files, and at least one lock, for each file that has had its meta-data retrieved, the at least one lock and meta-data being stored in the file server memory;
• and
• a management node, wherein the management node is configured to execute a management framework, framework plugins, and standalone programs/utilities related to management.