IP Library Granted Patent US 7,788,303
Granted Patent B2
US 7,788,303 · App. 11/255,817 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Systems and methods for distributed system scanning

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,788,303
App. No.
11/255,817
Granted
Aug 31, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for scanning files and directories in a distributed file system on a network of nodes. The nodes include metadata with attribute information corresponding to files and directories distributed on the nodes. In one embodiment, the files and directories are scanned by commanding the nodes to search their respective metadata for a selected attribute. At least two of the nodes are capable of searching their respective metadata in parallel. In one embodiment, the distributed file system commands the nodes to search for metadata data structures having location information corresponding to a failed device on the network. The metadata data structures identified in the search may then be used to reconstruct lost data that was stored on the failed device.

Claims (41)

1. A method for identifying selected attributes in files stored in a distributed file system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of nodes in a network, wherein each node comprises:

a processor and a memory device for locally storing data, and wherein files are distributed across the nodes such that one or more of the files are stored in the memory devices, in parts, among the plurality of nodes;

a plurality of metadata data blocks each associated with one of the files and comprising file attribute data related to the corresponding file, a file identifier, and location information for one or more content data blocks of the file, the attribute data including data indicating which nodes are used to store the file's content data blocks, the metadata data blocks distributed across the nodes and stored in the memory devices among the plurality of nodes such that, for at least one of the metadata data blocks, at least one of the content data blocks of the file associated with the metadata data block is stored on a different node than the at least one metadata data block; and

a metadata map data structure providing an indication of where metadata data blocks are stored on the respective node and comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries corresponding to a memory location of the memory device and indicating whether a metadata data block is stored in that memory location;

instructing, by the processor of the respective node, each of the nodes that locally stores metadata data blocks to determine each memory location where a metadata data block is locally stored using the respective node's metadata map data structure, read the respective metadata data blocks, and search the locally stored metadata data blocks for files which include data blocks stored on a particular node that is unavailable such that one or more of the nodes performs at least a portion of the search in parallel with at least a portion of the search of one or more of the other nodes;

receiving from the nodes that store metadata data blocks, file identifiers related to files that include data blocks stored on the node that is unavailable;

accessing the metadata data blocks corresponding to one of the file identifiers to determine the location of at least one accessible content data block and at least one accessible parity data block corresponding to one of the files that include data blocks stored on an unavailable node;

reading the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block from their respective locations in the memory devices of available nodes; and

processing the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block to generate recovered data blocks corresponding to the one or more data blocks stored on the unavailable node,

wherein processing the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block comprises performing an exclusive or (XOR) operation on the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

restriping the recovered data blocks among available nodes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the respective nodes performs the search by sequentially traversing its memory device to read its respective metadata data blocks after determining which memory locations store metadata data blocks.

4. A system for identifying selected attributes in files stored in a distributed file system, the system comprising:

a plurality of nodes in a network, wherein each node comprises:

a processor and a memory device for locally storing data, and wherein files are distributed across the nodes such that one or more of the files are stored in the memory devices, in parts, among the plurality of nodes;

a plurality of metadata data blocks each associated with one of the files and comprising file attribute data related to the corresponding file, a file identifier, and location information for one or more content data blocks of the file, the attribute data including data indicating which nodes are used to store the file's content data blocks, the metadata data blocks distributed across the nodes and stored in the memory devices among the plurality of nodes such that, for at least one of the metadata data blocks, at least one of the content data blocks of the file associated with the metadata data block is stored on a different node than the at least one metadata data block; and

a metadata map data structure providing an indication of where metadata data blocks are stored on the respective node and comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries corresponding to a memory location of the memory device and indicating whether a metadata data block is stored in that memory location, wherein each of the plurality of nodes are configured to:

instruct each of the nodes that locally stores metadata data blocks to determine each memory location where a metadata data block is locally stored using the respective node's metadata map data structure, read the respective metadata data blocks, and search the locally stored metadata data blocks for files which include data blocks stored on a particular node that is unavailable such that one or more of the nodes performs at least a portion of the search in parallel with at least a portion of the search of one or more of the other nodes;

receive from the nodes that store metadata data blocks, file identifiers related to files that include data blocks stored on the node that is unavailable;

access the metadata data blocks corresponding to one of the file identifiers to determine the location of at least one accessible content data block and at least one accessible parity data block corresponding to one of the files that include data blocks stored on an unavailable node;

read the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block from their respective locations in the memory devices of available nodes; and

process the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block to generate recovered data blocks corresponding to the one or more data blocks stored on the unavailable node by performing an exclusive—or (XOR) operation on the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of nodes is further configured to:

restripe the recovered data blocks among available nodes.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the respective nodes performs the search by sequentially traversing its memory device to read its respective metadata data blocks after determining which memory locations store metadata data blocks.

7. A computer readable medium storing program code that, in response to execution by a processor of one of a plurality of nodes in a network, causes the processor to perform operations for identifying selected attributes in files stored in a distributed file system, the operations comprising:

instructing, by a processor of one of a plurality of nodes in a network wherein each node comprises:

a processor and a memory device for locally storing data, and wherein files are distributed across the nodes such that one or more of the files are stored in the memory devices, in parts, among the plurality of nodes; and

a plurality of metadata data blocks each associated with one of the files and comprising file attribute data related to the corresponding file, a file identifier, and location information for one or more content data blocks of the file, the attribute data including data indicating which nodes are used to store the file's content data blocks, the metadata data blocks distributed across the nodes and stored in the memory devices among the plurality of nodes such that, for at least one of the metadata data blocks, at least one of the content data blocks of the file associated with the metadata data block is stored on a different node than the at least one metadata data block; and

a metadata map data structure providing an indication of where metadata data blocks are stored on the respective node and comprising a plurality of entries, each of the entries corresponding to a memory location of the memory device and indicating whether a metadata data block is stored in that memory location,

each of the nodes that locally stores metadata data blocks to determine each memory location where a metadata data block is locally stored using the respective node's metadata map data structure, read the respective metadata data blocks, and search the locally stored metadata data blocks for files which include data blocks stored on a particular node that is unavailable such that one or more of the nodes performs at least a portion of the search in parallel with at least a portion of the search of one or more of the other nodes;

receiving from the nodes that store metadata data blocks, file identifiers related to files that include data blocks stored on the node that is unavailable;

accessing the metadata data blocks corresponding to one of the file identifiers to determine the location of at least one accessible content data block and at least one accessible parity data block corresponding to one of the files that include data blocks stored on an unavailable node;

reading the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block from their respective locations in the memory devices of available nodes; and

processing the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block to generate recovered data blocks corresponding to the one or more data blocks stored on the unavailable node,

wherein processing the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block comprises performing an exclusive—or (XOR) operation on the at least one accessible content data block and the at least one accessible parity data block.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

restriping the recovered data blocks among available nodes.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein each of the respective nodes performs the search by sequentially traversing its memory device to read its respective metadata data blocks after determining which memory locations store metadata data blocks.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2016
From: EMC CORPORATION
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 040203/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2011
From: IVY HOLDING, INC.
To: EMC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026083/0036 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2011
From: ISILON SYSTEMS LLC
To: IVY HOLDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 026069/0925 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 31, 2011
From: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ISILON SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 026066/0785 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2010
From: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FUNDING COMPANY LLC
To: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025173/0542 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 22, 2006
From: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FUNDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 018613/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2006
From: MIKESELL, PAUL A.; ANDERSON, ROBERT J.; GODMAN, PETER J.; SCHACK, DARREN P.; DIRE, NATHAN E.
To: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017476/0412 →