Versioned file system with sharing
A method of data sharing among multiple entities is provided. Each entity exports to a data store a structured data representation comprising a versioned file system local to that entity. The method begins by forming a sharing group that includes two or more entities. Sharing of the structured data representations by members of the sharing group is enabled. The filers use a single distributed lock to protect each version of the file system. This lock is managed to allow each filer access to the shared file system volume to create its new version. To share a fully-versioned file system, asynchronous updates at each of the filers is permitted, and each node is then allowed to “push” its individual changes to the store to form the next version of the file system. A mechanism also may be used to reduce the period during which filers in the group operate under lock.
1. Apparatus associated with multiple filer entities, at least one of which creates and exports to a cloud data store one or more structured data representations comprising a versioned file system, wherein filer entities do not interact with one another, comprising:
a processor; and
computer memory storing computer program instructions executed by the processor (a) to enable sharing, as a volume, of the one or more structured data representations created and exported by the at least one filer entity by at least one other of the filer entities; (b) after sharing is enabled with respect to the one or more structured data representations, to manage distribution of a single, shared version identifier among the at least one filer entity and the at least other of the filer entities such that one and only one of the filer entities sharing the volume are enabled to create a new version of the versioned file system having that version identifier;
wherein managing distribution of the single, shared version identifier includes restricting a time period during which the filer entities operate under the single, shared version identifier such that multiple filer entities are enabled to export structured data representations to the cloud data store concurrently.
2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein a given filer entity pushes to the cloud data store both data and metadata associated with the versioned file system, and wherein a restriction on use of the single, shared version identifier is enforced only as a filer entity pushes the metadata.
3. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the computer program instructions executed by the process generate an interface by which a sharing group that includes two or more of the multiple filer entities is configured.
4. Apparatus associated with multiple filer entities, at least one of which creates and exports to a cloud data store one or more structured data representations comprising a versioned file system, wherein filer entities do not interact with one another, comprising:
a processor; and
computer memory storing computer program instructions executed by the processor (a) to enable sharing, as a volume, of the one or more structured data representations created and exported by the at least one filer entity by at least one other of the filer entities; (b) after sharing is enabled with respect to the one or more structured data representations, to manage distribution of a single, shared version identifier among the at least one filer entity and the at least other of the filer entities such that one and only one of the filer entities sharing the volume are enabled to create a new version of the versioned file system having that version identifier;
wherein a given filer entity pushes to the cloud data store both data and metadata associated with the versioned file system, and wherein managing distribution of the single, shared version identifier includes enforcing a restriction on use of the single, shared version identifier except when a filer entity is pushing the data.
5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein managing distribution of the single, shared version identifier enforces a time limit on a push to the cloud data store of the data associated with the versioned file system.
6. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the computer program instructions executed by the process generate an interface by which a sharing group that includes two or more of the multiple filer entities is configured.
7. Apparatus associated with multiple filer entities, at least one of which creates and exports to a cloud data store one or more structured data representations comprising a versioned file system, wherein filer entities do not interact with one another, comprising:
a processor; and
computer memory storing computer program instructions executed by the processor (a) to enable sharing, as a volume, of the one or more structured data representations created and exported by the at least one filer entity by at least one other of the filer entities; (b) after sharing is enabled with respect to the one or more structured data representations, to manage distribution of a single, shared version identifier among the at least one filer entity and the at least other of the filer entities such that one and only one of the filer entities sharing the volume are enabled to create a new version of the versioned file system having that version identifier; and (c) to create a consistent, local view of the volume from a perspective of each filer entity of the multiple filer entities that share the volume.
8. The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein the filer entities comprise a single enterprise environment.
9. The apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein the single enterprise environment comprises geographically-distributed facilities of an enterprise.
10. The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein computer program instructions executed by the process generate an interface by which a sharing group that includes two or more of the multiple filer entities is configured.
11. The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein the computer program instructions executed by the process cause data associated with a first filer entity to be populated in a cache associated with a second filer entity when metadata in the first filer entity indicates that the data has been changed in the first filer entity.