Dynamic network access of snapshotted versions of a clustered file system

A network device for enabling access to files in a distributed file system, comprising:

• a transceiver for communicating over the network;
• a memory for storing at least instructions;
• a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including:
• receiving an operation request that includes at least an entry-ID for a file and a snapshot ID;
• retrieving a snapshot tracking file directory entry from the distributed file system based on the snapshot-ID, wherein the retrieved snapshot directory entry includes a generation-ID;
• determining if the generation-ID and the snapshot-ID are dissimilar;
• in response to determining the generation-ID and the snapshot-ID are dissimilar, retrieving a second snapshot tracking file directory entry from the distributed file system based on the value of the generation-ID, wherein the snapshot-ID is set to the value of the generation-ID;
• retrieving a directory entry for the file from the second snapshot tracking file directory based on the entry-ID and the snapshot-ID;
• performing the operation request on the retrieved directory entry for the file, wherein the performing of the operation request based on the second snapshot tracking file directory is transparent to the client;
• receiving an alias request that includes at least the snapshot-ID, and an alias-ID;
• retrieving the snapshot tracking file directory entry that corresponds to the snapshot-ID;
• and
• generating a new generation-ID for a new snapshot alias file directory entry that corresponds to the alias-ID and saving the new snapshot alias file directory entry in the distributed file system.

A system for enabling a network device to access files in a distributed file system, comprising:

• a server network device, including:
• a transceiver for communicating over the network;
• a memory for storing at least instructions;
• a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including:
• receiving an operation request a client device that includes at least an entry-ID for a file and a snapshot ID;
• determining if the generation-ID and the snapshot-ID are dissimilar;
• in response to determining the generation-ID and the snapshot-ID are dissimilar, retrieving a second snapshot tracking file directory entry from the distributed file system based on the value of the generation-ID, wherein the snapshot-ID is set to the value of the generation-ID;
• retrieving a directory entry for the file from the second snapshot tracking file directory based on the entry-ID and the snapshot-ID;
• and
• performing the operation request on the retrieved directory entry for the file, wherein the performing of the operation request based on the second snapshot tracking file directory is transparent to the client;
• receiving an alias request that includes at least the snapshot-ID, and an alias-ID;
• retrieving the snapshot tracking file directory entry that corresponds to the snapshot-ID;
• and
• generating a new generation-ID for a new snapshot alias file directory entry that corresponds to the alias-ID and saving the new snapshot alias file directory entry in the distributed file system;
• and
• the client device, including:
• a transceiver for communicating over the network;
• a memory for storing at least instructions;
• a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including:
• generating the operation request, wherein the operation request includes the entry-ID and the snapshot ID, wherein the entry-ID is determined from a file handle;
• and
• generating the alias request, wherein the alias request includes the snapshot-ID and the alias-ID.

A processor readable non-transitive storage media that includes instructions for enabling a network device to access files in a distributed file system, wherein the network device that executes at least a portion of the instructions enables actions, comprising:

• receiving an operation request from a client that includes at least an entry-ID for a file and a snapshot ID;
• retrieving a snapshot tracking file directory entry from the distributed file system based on the snapshot-ID, wherein the retrieved snapshot tracking file directory entry includes a generation-ID;
• determining if the generation-ID and the snapshot-ID are dissimilar;
• in response to determining the generation-ID and the snapshot-ID are dissimilar, retrieving a second snapshot tracking file directory entry from the distributed file system based on the value of the generation-ID, wherein the snapshot-ID is set to the value of the generation-ID;
• retrieving a directory entry for the file from the second snapshot tracking file directory based on the entry-ID and the snapshot-ID;
• performing the operation request on the retrieved directory entry for the file, wherein the performing of the operation request based on the second snapshot tracking file directory is transparent to the client;
• receiving an alias request that includes at least the snapshot-ID, and an alias-ID;
• retrieving the snapshot tracking file directory entry that corresponds to the snapshot-ID;
• and
• generating a new generation-ID for a new snapshot alias file directory entry that corresponds to the alias-ID and saving the new snapshot alias file directory entry in the distributed file system.