Method and computing device for allowing synchronized access to cloud storage systems based on stub tracking
A method and computing device for allowing synchronized access to a cloud storage system (CSS) based on stub tracking. The computing device comprises: a processing unit; a storage system, wherein the storage system is configured to maintain objects, each object having a state, wherein each state is any one of: a synchronized state, and a stub state; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, configure the computing device to: receive a request from a client to access an object maintained in the storage system; change the state of the requested object from a stub state to a synchronized state upon receiving the request; and synchronize data of the requested object having a synchronized state with the CSS.
1. A computing device for allowing synchronized access to a cloud storage system (CSS), comprising:
a processing unit;
a storage system, wherein the storage system is configured to maintain objects, each object having a state, wherein each state is any one of: a synchronized state, and a stub state; and
a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, configure the computing device to:
receive a request from a client to access data in a byte range within a file contained in at least one object maintained in the storage system;
change the state of the requested at least one object from a stub state to a synchronized state upon receiving the request;
synchronize data of the requested at least one object having a synchronized state with the CSS; and
upon the byte range becoming available, provide the requested data to the client.
2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the state of the requested at least one object is changed from a stub state to a synchronized state based on a cache management policy, wherein the computing device is further configured to:
disable synchronization of data of the at least one object in the stub state with the CSS.
3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
synchronize metadata of files to the storage system, wherein the metadata of each file includes at least a filename of the file.
4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
selectively synchronize metadata of a set of files residing in a predefined set of directories to the storage system, wherein the selective synchronization is performed on-demand.
5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the file has a stub state and wherein the computing device is further configured to:
change a state of at least the requested byte range to a synchronized state.
6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the files maintained in the storage system are exposed through a virtual file system.
7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the files maintained in the storage system are arranged in a multi-level namespace.
8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is any one of: a cloud storage gateway (CSG), and an endpoint.
9. A method for allowing synchronized access to a cloud storage system (CSS), comprising:
receiving a request from a client to access data in a byte range within a file contained in at least one object maintained in a storage system, wherein the storage system is configured to maintain objects, each at least one object having a state, wherein each state is any one of: a synchronized state, and a stub state;
changing the state of the requested at least one object from a stub state to a synchronized state upon receiving the request; and
synchronizing data of the requested at least one object having a synchronized state with the CSS; and
upon the byte range becoming available, providing the requested data to the client.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the state of the requested at least one object is changed from a stub state to a synchronized state based on a cache management policy, wherein the method further comprising:
disabling synchronization of data of the at least one object in the stub state with the CSS.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
synchronizing metadata of files to the storage system, wherein the metadata of each file includes at least a filename of the file.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
selectively synchronizing metadata of a set of files residing in a predefined set of directories to the storage system, wherein the selective synchronization is performed on-demand.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the file has a stub state, the method further comprising:
changing a state of at least the requested byte range to a synchronized state.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the files maintained in the storage system are exposed through a virtual file system.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the files maintained in the storage system are arranged in a multi-level namespace.
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more processing units to execute a method for allowing synchronized access to a cloud storage system (CSS):
receiving a request from a client to access data in a byte range within a file contained in at least one object maintained in a storage system, wherein the storage system is configured to maintain objects, each at least one object having a state, wherein each state is any one of: a synchronized state, and a stub state;
changing the state of the requested at least one object from a stub state to a synchronized state upon receiving the request;
synchronizing data of the requested at least one object having a synchronized state with the CSS; and
upon the byte range becoming available, providing the requested data to the client.