Virtual file-sharing network
A method for enabling access to a data resource, which is held on a file server ( 25 ) on a first local area network (LAN) ( 21 a ), by a client ( 28 ) on a second LAN ( 21 b ). A proxy receiver ( 48 ) on the second LAN ( 21 b ) intercepts a request for the data resource submitted by the client ( 28 ) and transmits a message via a wide area network (WAN) ( 29 ) to a proxy transmitter ( 52 ) on the first LAN ( 21 a ), requesting the data resource. The proxy transmitter ( 52 ) retrieves a replica of the data resource from the file server ( 25 ) and conveys the replica of the data resource over the WAN ( 29 ) to the proxy receiver ( 48 ), which serves the replica of the data resource from the proxy receiver ( 48 ) to the client ( 28 ) over the second LAN ( 21 b ).
1. A method for enabling access to data resources held on a file server on a first local area network (LAN) by a client on a second LAN, the first LAN and the second LAN connected via a network, the method comprising, at a proxy receiver on the second LAN:
during a first time period:
determining a first demand-to-modification rate ratio for a remotely-available resource located on the file server on the first LAN using metadata regarding the remotely-available resource;
determining a first available bandwidth based on historical traffic measurements;
calculating, at the proxy receiver, a schedule and transfer rate to pre-position the remotely-available resource on the second LAN based upon the first available bandwidth and the first demand-to-modification rate ratio; and
pre-positioning, at the proxy receiver on the second LAN, the remotely-available resource at the calculate schedule and transfer rate; and
during a second time period subsequent to the first time period:
determining a difference between the remotely-available resource during the second time period and the pre-positioned remotely-available resource during the first time period;
determining an updated demand-to-modification rate ratio for the remotely-available resource;
determining an updated available bandwidth based on historical traffic measurements;
adapting, by the proxy receiver, the calculated schedule and transfer rate such that the remotely-available resource is made available to a client on the second LAN based on the updated demand-to-modification ratio and the updated available bandwidth; and
updating the pre-positioned remotely-available resource by applying, at the proxy receiver on the second LAN, the determined difference to the pre-positioned remotely-available resource based on the adapted calculated schedule and transfer rate.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the metadata includes access information of the remotely-available resource, and the access information comprises demand rate information and modification rate information.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the demand-to-modification rate ratios each comprise the ratio of read-only access requests of the remotely-available resource to read-write access requests of the remotely-available resource.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein pre-positioning the remotely-available resource comprises downloading and storing a copy of the resource's file attribute information from the file server on the first LAN to the proxy receiver on the second LAN.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein pre-positioning the remotely-available resource comprises downloading and storing a copy of the resource from the file server on the first LAN to the proxy receiver on the second LAN.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the historical traffic measurements include: average delivery rate, number of concurrent connections required to achieve maximal rate, and connection latency.
7. Apparatus for enabling access to data resources held on a file server on a first local area network (LAN) by a client on a second LAN, the first LAN and the second LAN connected via a network, the apparatus comprising a proxy receiver located on the second LAN, the proxy receiver comprising:
a cache; and
a processor, which is configured to:
during a first time period:
determine a first demand-to-modification rate ratio for a remotely-available resource located on the file server on the first LAN using metadata regarding the remotely-available resource;
determine a first available bandwidth based on historical traffic measurements;
calculate, at the proxy receiver, a schedule and transfer rate to pre-position the remotely-available resource on the second LAN based upon the first available bandwidth and the first demand-to-modification rate ratio; and
pre-position, at the proxy receiver on the second LAN, the remotely-available resource at the calculate schedule and transfer rate; and
during a second time period subsequent to the first time period:
determine a difference between the remotely-available resource during the second time period and the pre-positioned remotely-available resource during the first time period;
determine an updated demand-to-modification rate ratio for the remotely-available resource;
determine an updated available bandwidth based on historical traffic measurements;
adapt, by the proxy receiver, the calculated schedule and transfer rate such that the remotely-available resource is made available to a client on the second based on the updated demand-to-modification ratio and the updated available bandwidth; and
update the pre-positioned remotely-available resource by applying, at the proxy receiver on the second LAN, the determined difference to the pre-positioned remotely-available resource based on the adapted calculated schedule and transfer rate.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the metadata includes access information of the remotely-available resource, and the access information comprises demand rate information and modification rate information.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the demand-to-modification rate ratios each comprise the ratio of read-only access requests of the remotely-available resource to read-write access requests of the remotely-available resource.
10. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein pre-positioning the remotely-available resource comprises downloading and storing a copy of the resource's file attribute information from the file server on the first LAN to the proxy receiver on the second LAN.
11. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein pre-positioning the remotely-available resource comprises downloading and storing a copy of the resource from the file server on the first LAN to the proxy receiver on the second LAN.
12. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the historical traffic measurements include: average delivery rate, number of concurrent connections required to achieve maximal rate, and connection latency.
13. A computer software product for enabling access to data resources held on a file server on a first local area network (LAN) by a client on a second LAN, the first LAN and the second LAN connected via a network, the product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer on the second LAN, cause the computer to:
operate as a proxy receiver, so as to
during a first time period:
determine a first demand-to-modification rate ratio for a remotely-available resource located on the file server on the first LAN using metadata regarding the remotely-available resource;
determine a first available bandwidth based on historical traffic measurements;
calculate, at the proxy receiver, a schedule and transfer rate to pre-position the remotely-available resource on the second LAN based upon the first available bandwidth and the first demand-to-modification rate ratio; and
pre-position, at the proxy receiver on the second LAN, the remotely-available resource at the calculate schedule and transfer rate; and
during a second time period subsequent to the first time period:
determine a difference between the remotely-available resource during the second time period and the pre-positioned remotely-available resource during the first time period;
determine an updated demand-to-modification rate ratio for the remotely-available resource;
determine an updated available bandwidth based on historical traffic measurements;
adapt, by the proxy receiver, the calculated schedule and transfer rate such that the remotely-available resource is made available to a client on the second LAN based on the updated demand-to-modification ratio and the updated available bandwidth; and
update the pre-positioned remotely-available resource by applying, at the proxy receiver on the second LAN, the determined difference to the pre-positioned remotely-available resource based on the adapted calculated schedule and transfer rate.
14. A product according to claim 13 , wherein access information of the remotely-available resource, and the access information comprises demand rate information and modification rate information.
15. A product according to claim 13 , wherein the demand-to-modification rate ratios each comprise the ratio of read-only access requests of the remotely-available resource to read-write access requests of the remotely-available resource.
16. A product according to claim 13 , wherein pre-positioning the remotely-available resource comprises downloading and storing a copy of the resource's file attribute information from the file server on the first LAN to the proxy receiver on the second LAN.
17. A product according to claim 13 , wherein pre-positioning the remotely-available resource comprises downloading and storing a copy of the resource from the file server on the first LAN to the proxy receiver on the second LAN.
18. A product according to claim 13 , wherein the historical traffic measurements include: average delivery rate, number of concurrent connections required to achieve maximal rate, and connection latency.