Fast file server methods and systems
The invention provides, in one aspect, an improved system for data access comprising a file server that is coupled to a client device or application executing thereon via one or more networks. The server comprises static storage that is organized in one or more directories, each containing, zero, one or more files. The server also comprises a file system operable, in cooperation with a file system on the client device, to provide authorized applications executing on the client device access to those directories and/or files. Fast file server (FFS) software or other functionality executing on or in connection with the server responds to requests received from the client by transferring requested data to the client device over multiple network pathways. That data can comprise, for example, directory trees, files (or portions thereof), and so forth.
1. A system to allow transfer of requested data comprising:
a file server capable of receiving communications from a client executing application;
a file system of the file server;
a plurality of networks;
a software program stored on the file server which generates a configuration file which specifies from the plurality of networks, one or more network interfaces over which data can be transmitted to the client executing application, where the file system controls access to the configuration file by the client executing application, where access is granted based in part on the identity of the client executing application, where when the file server receives a request from the client executing application for data the file server responds by transferring the data over the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file.
2. The system of claim 1 , where the data comprises any of directory trees, files, or portions thereof.
3. The system of claim 1 , where the file server controls access to the configuration file.
4. The system of claim 1 , where the file server controls access to the configuration file by way of access permissions associated with the configuration file.
5. The system of claim 1 , where the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file are physically independent networks.
6. The system of claim 1 , where one or more security keys are used to identify a requested data transfer.
7. The system of claim 1 , where receipt of the configuration file is based on access permissions associated with the configuration file.
8. A method to enable delivery of data comprising the steps of:
receiving a software program on a file system of a file server in communication with a client executing application on a client device;
responding to a request for data by transferring a configuration file generated by the software program to the client executing application on the client device, where the configuration file identifies one or more network interfaces from a plurality of network interfaces over which data can be transferred between the file server and the client executing application on the client device, where the file system controls access to the configuration file by the client executing application, where access is granted based in part on the identity of the client executing application; and
responding to a request for data by transferring the requested data to the client executing application on the client device over the one or more network interfaces.
9. The method of claim 8 , where the data comprises any of directory trees, files, or portions thereof.
10. The method of claim 8 , where the file server controls access to the configuration file.
11. The method of claim 8 , where the file server controls access to the configuration file by way of access permissions associated with the configuration file.
12. The method of claim 8 , where the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file are physically independent networks.
13. The method of claim 8 , where one or more security keys are used to identify a requested data transfer.
14. The method of claim 8 , where the file server delivers a first set of data requested by a first client device to the first client device and a second set of data requested by a second client device to the second client device.
15. A method to send data comprising the steps of:
executing a software application on a file system of a server to generate a configuration file residing on the server;
monitoring for requests from a client executing application on a client device;
receiving a request for access to the configuration file from the client executing application on the client device;
granting access to the configuration file to the client executing application, where the file system controls access to the configuration file based in part on the client executing application, where access is granted based in part on the identity of the client executing application;
monitoring on one or more network interfaces identified in the configuration file for requests for data from the client executing application; and
sending the data to the client executing application on the client device over the one or more network interfaces in response to the request.
16. The method of claim 15 , where the data comprises any of directory trees, files, or portions thereof.
17. The method of claim 15 , where the server verifies access authority to the configuration file by way of access permissions associated with the configuration file.
18. The method of claim 15 , where the one or more network interfaces specified by the configuration file are physically independent network interfaces.
19. The method of claim 15 , where one or more security keys are present in the configuration file, where the one or more security keys are used to verify access authority for a requested data transfer.
20. The method of claim 15 , where the server transfers a first set of data requested by a first client device to the first client device and a second set of data requested by a second client device to the second client device.