Policy-based file management for a storage delivery network

A system for managing storage and access to data files stored in a storage delivery network comprising a plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes, the system comprising:

• a database containing a plurality of service level agreements (SLAs) for a plurality of customers, each customer storing one or more data files in the storage delivery network;
• and
• a server coupled to the database for managing storage and access to one or more data files, the server comprising:
• a first module for receiving a request from a user, wherein the user is associated with a first SLA containing one or more policies governing handling of file requests from the user;
• a second module for determining if the first SLA dictates redirecting the file request to a predetermined storage node;
• a third module for redirecting the file request to a predetermined storage node if the first SLA dictates redirecting the file request to the predetermined storage node, otherwise, identifying all storage nodes from the plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes that are near enough to the user based on one or more predetermined criteria;
• a fourth module for identifying a nearest storage node from among the near enough storage nodes;
• and
• a fifth module for redirecting the user request to the nearest storage node, wherein the nearest storage node comprises a server computer having a non-volatile memory that stores content associated with the file request from the user.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed perform a process for managing storage and access to data files stored in a storage delivery network comprising a plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes, the instructions comprising:

• a first code module for receiving a file request from a user, wherein the user is associated with a service level agreement (SLA) containing one or more policies governing handling of file requests from the user;
• a second code module for determining if the SLA dictates redirecting the file request to a predetermined storage node;
• a third code module for redirecting the file request to the predetermined storage node if the SLA dictates redirecting the file request to a predetermined storage node, otherwise, identifying all storage nodes from the plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes that are near enough to the user based on one or more predetermined criteria;
• a fourth code module for identifying a nearest storage node from among the near enough storage nodes;
• and
• a fifth code module for redirecting the user request to the nearest storage node, wherein the nearest storage node comprises a server computer having a non-volatile memory that stores content associated with the file request from the user.