IP Library Granted Patent US 7,797,283
Granted Patent B2
US 7,797,283 · App. 11/255,818 · Granted Sep 14, 2010

Systems and methods for maintaining distributed data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,797,283
App. No.
11/255,818
Granted
Sep 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is mirrored index tree where the copies of the nodes of the tree are stored across devices in a distributed system. In one embodiment, nodes that are stored on an offline device are restored, and an offline device that comes back online is merged into the distributed system and given access to the current indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is traversed to locate and restore nodes that are stored on offline devices of the distributed system.

Claims (65)

1. A distributed storage system storing a distributed tree structure, comprising:

a plurality of storage devices configured to communicate with each other;

a tree structure stored as nodes across two or more of the plurality of storage devices, the tree structure comprising:

a first leaf node comprising a first record identified by a first key, the first leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices, the first record stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the first leaf node comprising a copy of the first record identified by the first key, the at least one copy of the first leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the first leaf node;

a second leaf node comprising a second record identified by a second key, the second leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices, the second record stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

one or more copies of the second leaf node, the one or more copies of the second leaf node comprising a different number of copies than the at least one copy of the first leaf node, each of the one or more copies of the second leaf node comprising a copy of the second record identified by the second key, each of the one or more copies of the second leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the second leaf node;

a parent node referencing the first leaf node, the at least one copy of the first leaf node, the second leaf node, and the one or more copies of the second leaf node, the parent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the parent node referencing the first leaf node, the at least one copy of the first leaf node, the second leaf node, and the one or more copies of the second leaf node, the at least one copy of the parent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the parent node;

a grandparent node referencing the parent node and the at least one copy of the parent node, the grandparent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the grandparent node referencing the parent node and the at least one copy of the parent node, the at least one copy of the grandparent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the grandparent node; and

the grandparent node, the at least one copy of the grandparent node, the parent node, and the at least one copy of the parent node configured to index the first leaf node and the at least one copy of the first leaf node based on the first key and the second leaf node and the one or more copies of the second leaf node based on the second key; and

an index management module in communication with the plurality of storage devices, the index management module configured to run on a processor and to:

maintain at least as many copies of the parent node as the maximum number of copies of any of its children nodes, its children nodes including the first leaf node and the second leaf node;

maintain at least as many copies of the grandparent node as the maximum number of copies of any of its children nodes, its children nodes including the parent node; and

traverse the tree structure, using a copy of the first leaf node if the first leaf node is unavailable, using a copy of the parent node if the parent node is unavailable, and using a copy of the grandparent node if the grandparent node is unavailable.

2. The distributed storage system of claim 1 , the index management module further configured to store a superblock on each storage device in the plurality of storage devices, each superblock referencing the tree structure.

3. The distributed storage system of claim 1 , the tree structure further comprising a root node and at least as many copies of the root node as the maximum number of copies of any of the root node's descendants, the root node stored on a different storage device than the storage devices storing the copies of the root node.

4. The distributed storage system of claim 1 , the tree structure further comprising a version value.

5. The distributed storage system of claim 1 , the tree structure further comprising:

a root node referencing the grandparent node and the copy of the grandparent node, the root node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

a copy of the root node referencing the grandparent node and the copy of the grandparent node, the copy of the root node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the root node; and

the root node and the copy of the root node configured to index the first leaf node and the at least one copy of the first leaf node based on the first key, and the second leaf node and the one or more copies of the second leaf node based on the second key.

6. A computer-implemented method for storing a distributed tree structure, comprising:

providing, by a processor, a tree structure stored as nodes across two or more of a plurality of storage devices, the tree structure comprising:

a first leaf node comprising a first record identified by a first key, the first leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices, the first record stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the first leaf node comprising a copy of the first record identified by the first key, the at least one copy of the first leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the first leaf node;

a second leaf node comprising a second record identified by a second key, the second leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices, the second record stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

one or more copies of the second leaf node, the one or more copies of the second leaf node comprising a different number of copies than the at least one copy of the first leaf node, each of the one or more copies of the second leaf node comprising a copy of the second record identified by the second key, each of the one or more copies of the second leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the second leaf node;

a parent node referencing the first leaf node, the at least one copy of the first leaf node, the second leaf node, and the one or more copies of the second leaf node, the parent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the parent node referencing the first leaf node, the at least one copy of the first leaf node, the second leaf node, and the one or more copies of the second leaf node, the at least one copy of the parent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the parent node;

a grandparent node referencing the parent node and the at least one copy of the parent node, the grandparent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the grandparent node referencing the parent node and the at least one copy of the parent node, the at least one copy of the grandparent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the grandparent node; and

the grandparent node, the at least one copy of the grandparent node, the parent node, and the at least one copy of the parent node configured to index the first leaf node and the at least one copy of the first leaf node based on the first key and the second leaf node and the one or more copies of the second leaf node based on the second key; and

maintaining, by a processor, at least as many copies of the parent node as the maximum number of copies of any of its children nodes, its children nodes including the first leaf node and the second leaf node;

maintaining, by a processor, at least as many copies of the grandparent node as the maximum number of copies of any of its children nodes, its children nodes including the parent node; and

traversing, by a processor, the tree structure, using a copy of the first leaf node if the first leaf node is unavailable, using a copy of the parent node if the parent node is unavailable, and using a copy of the grandparent node if the grandparent node is unavailable.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising storing a superblock on each storage device in the plurality of storage devices, each superblock referencing the tree structure.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the tree structure further comprises a root node and at least as many copies of the root node as the maximum number of copies of any of the root node's descendants, the root node stored on a different storage device than the storage devices storing the copies of the root node.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the tree structure further comprises a version value.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the tree structure further comprises:

a root node referencing the grandparent node and the copy of the grandparent node, the root node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

a copy of the root node referencing the grandparent node and the copy of the grandparent node, the copy of the root node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the root node; and

the root node and the copy of the root node configured to index the first leaf node and the at least one copy of the first leaf node based on the first key, and the second leaf node and the one or more copies of the second leaf node based on the second key.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for implementing, when the instructions are executed, a distributed tree structure, the instructions comprising:

providing a tree structure stored as nodes across two or more of a plurality of storage devices, the tree structure comprising:

a first leaf node comprising a first record identified by a first key, the first leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices, the first record stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the first leaf node comprising a copy of the first record identified by the first key, the at least one copy of the first leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the first leaf node;

a second leaf node comprising a second record identified by a second key, the second leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices, the second record stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

one or more copies of the second leaf node, the one or more copies of the second leaf node comprising a different number of copies than the at least one copy of the first leaf node, each of the one or more copies of the second leaf node comprising a copy of the second record identified by the second key, each of the one or more copies of the second leaf node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the second leaf node;

a parent node referencing the first leaf node, the at least one copy of the first leaf node, the second leaf node, and the one or more copies of the second leaf node, the parent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the parent node referencing the first leaf node, the at least one copy of the first leaf node, the second leaf node, and the one or more copies of the second leaf node, the at least one copy of the parent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the parent node;

a grandparent node referencing the parent node and the at least one copy of the parent node, the grandparent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

at least one copy of the grandparent node referencing the parent node and the at least one copy of the parent node, the at least one copy of the grandparent node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the grandparent node; and

the grandparent node, the at least one copy of the grandparent node, the parent node, and the at least one copy of the parent node configured to index the first leaf node and the at least one copy of the first leaf node based on the first key and the second leaf node and the one or more copies of the second leaf node based on the second key; and

maintaining at least as many copies of the parent node as the maximum number of copies of any of its children nodes, its children nodes including the first leaf node and the second leaf node;

maintaining at least as many copies of the grandparent node as the maximum number of copies of any of its children nodes, its children nodes including the parent node; and

traversing the tree structure, using a copy of the first leaf node if the first leaf node is unavailable, using a copy of the parent node if the parent node is unavailable, and using a copy of the grandparent node if the grandparent node is unavailable.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising storing a superblock on each storage device in the plurality of storage devices, each superblock referencing the tree structure.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the tree structure further comprises a root node and at least as many copies of the root node as the maximum number of copies of any of the root node's descendants, the root node stored on a different storage device than the storage devices storing the copies of the root node.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the tree structure further comprises a version value.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the tree structure further comprises:

a root node referencing the grandparent node and the copy of the grandparent node, the root node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices;

a copy of the root node referencing the grandparent node and the copy of the grandparent node, the copy of the root node stored on one of the plurality of storage devices that is different from the storage device storing the root node; and

the root node and the copy of the root node configured to index the first leaf node and the at least one copy of the first leaf node based on the first key, and the second leaf node and the one or more copies of the second leaf node based on the second key.

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: FACHAN, NEAL T.; PASSEY, AARON J.; SCHACK, DARREN P.
To: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017476/0272 →