Cluster file system with server block cache

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one metadata server of a cluster file system;
• the metadata server being configured to interface with a storage array;
• the metadata server being configured to communicate with one or more additional servers and one or more clients over a network;
• the metadata server comprising:
• a block cache;
• a request translator configured to translate input-output requests in a metadata access protocol of the cluster file system to a block protocol format suitable for use with the block cache;
• and
• at least one block input-output driver coupled between the block cache and the storage array;
• wherein the request translator is configured to translate client input-output requests directed to a metadata target of the storage array into block-input-output requests processed by the block cache;
• wherein the metadata server is configured to invalidate contents of the block cache under a designated failure condition;
• wherein invalidating the contents of the block cache comprises preventing access to the contents of the block cache;
• and
• wherein the block cache is configured to automatically retrieve valid metadata from the metadata target of the storage array upon restart of the metadata server after a failure of the metadata storage server.

A method comprising:

• implementing a block cache in at least one server of a cluster file system, the at least one server being configured to interface with a storage array and to communicate with one or more additional servers and one or more clients over a network;
• and
• translating input-output requests in an access protocol of the cluster file system to a block protocol format suitable for use with the block cache;
• wherein at least one block input-output driver is coupled between the block cache and the storage array;
• wherein translating input-output requests comprises translating client input-output requests directed to one or more targets of the storage array into block input-output requests that are processed by the block cache;
• wherein the at least one server is configured to invalidate contents of the block cache under a designated failure condition;
• wherein invalidating the contents of the block cache comprises preventing access to the contents of the block cache;
• wherein the block cache is configured to automatically retrieve valid data or metadata from the one or more targets of the storage array upon restart of the at least one server after a failure of the at least one server;
• and
• wherein the at least one server comprises at least one of an object storage server and a metadata server.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having encoded therein executable code of one or more software programs, wherein the one or more software programs when executed cause at least one server to perform the steps of:

• implementing a block cache in the at least one server of a cluster file system, the at least one server being configured to interface with a storage array and to communicate with one or more additional servers and one or more clients over a network;
• and
• translating input-output requests in an access protocol of the cluster file system to a block protocol format suitable for use with the block cache;
• wherein at least one block input-output driver is coupled between the block cache and the storage array;
• wherein translating input-output requests comprises translating client input-output requests directed to one or more targets of the storage array into block input-output requests that are processed by the block cache;
• wherein the at least one server is configured to invalidate contents of the block cache under a designated failure condition;
• wherein invalidating the contents of the block cache comprises preventing access to the contents of the block cache;
• wherein the block cache is configured to automatically retrieve valid data or metadata from the one or more targets of the storage array upon restart of the at least one server after a failure of the at least one server;
• and
• wherein the at least one server comprises at least one of an object storage server and a metadata server.