Method and apparatus for web based storage on-demand
The operation efficiency of a large scale distributed computing system in a world wide web environment is critical to any enterprises, ISP, or ASP due to a larger number of individual computing units in the distributed computing system are required to be operated. A multi-layered server structure with deployment of middle level control server for the distributed computing system of this invention can lead to a more secure and efficient computing environment for managing and access the larger number of computing units in the distributed computing system due to the middle level control server can effectively shared the burden of controlling the larger number of the computing units from a centralized control server of the distributed computing system.
1. A method for scaling a hierarchical system, comprising:
configuring the hierarchical system to comprise at least one top level control server, a first middle level control server and a plurality of third level servers connected across a network infrastructure,
wherein the top level control server automatically adds the first middle level control server into a control pool, and the first middle level control server automatically adds each of the third level servers into a first service pool;
scaling up the hierarchical system, including to:
construct automatically a second service pool of a plurality of third level servers by a second middle level control server upon which receiving service information from each of the third level servers via executing a service pool construction protocol; and
add automatically the second middle level control server into the control pool by the top level control server upon which receiving information from the second middle level control server via executing a service pool construction protocol,
wherein the top level control server controls centralized operations for all servers at all levels in the hierarchical system, and
wherein the first middle level control servers controls centralized operations only for the third level servers in the first service pool, and the second middle level control servers controls centralized operations only for the third level servers in the second service pool.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving service information from each of the third level servers further comprises: receiving storage information, including information of storage volumes from the each of the third level servers, the information of the storage volumes including starting address and size for each of the storage volumes.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving service information from each of the third level servers further comprises: receiving file system information, including information of folder structure from the each of the third level servers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top level control server adds the first middle level control server into the control pool via executing a service pool construction protocol, and the first middle level control server adds each of the third level servers into the first service pool via executing a service pool construction protocol.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third level servers in each of the first and second service pools are physically clustered on said network infrastructure of the Internet, a corporate intranet, a local area network or a wide area network, and wherein the middle level control servers in the control pool are physically clustered on said network infrastructure.
6. The method of claim 1 , each of the top and middle level control servers comprises at least one control module designated for automatically collecting information from corresponding servers at one level below via executing a service pool construction protocol, and comprises another control module for processing each task received from each client device.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second middle level control servers and the third level servers in the first or second service pool comprises at least one service module designated for automatically sending self information including internet protocol (IP) address to a corresponding control server at one level up via executing a service pool construction protocol, and another service module for processing a task received from a corresponding control server at one level up.
8. A hierarchical system comprising:
at least one top level control server, a first middle level control server and a plurality of third level servers connected across a network infrastructure,
wherein the top level control server automatically adds the first middle level control server into a control pool, and the first middle level control server automatically adds each of the third level servers into a first service pool; wherein
the hierarchical system is configured to seal up, including to:
construct automatically a second service pool of a plurality of third level servers by a second middle level control server upon which receiving service information from each of the third level servers via executing a service pool construction protocol; and
add automatically the second middle level control server into the control pool by the top level control server upon which receiving information from the second middle level control server via executing a service pool construction protocol; and
wherein the top level control server controls centralized operations for all servers at all levels in the hierarchical system, and
wherein the first middle level control servers controls centralized operations only for the third level servers in the first service pool, and the second middle level control servers controls centralized operations only for the third level servers in the second service pool.
9. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein the third level servers in each of the first and second service pools are physically clustered on said network infrastructure of the Internet, a corporate intranet, a local area network or a wide area network.
10. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein the middle level control servers in the control pool are physically clustered on said network infrastructure of the Internet, a corporate intranet, a local area network or a wide area network.
11. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein said controlling centralized operations for all servers at all level in the hierarchical system comprises: causing to display the control pool and the first and second service pools on an operation console for said centralized operations.
12. The hierarchical system of claim 11 , wherein said controlling centralized operations for the third level servers comprises: causing to display the first or second service pool on an operation console for said centralized operations.
13. The hierarchical system of claim 12 , wherein each of the top and middle level control servers is configured operatively to cause displaying self information on an operation console for said centralized operation.
14. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein said receiving service information from each of the third level servers further comprises: receiving storage information, including information of storage volumes from the each of the third level servers, the information of the storage volumes including starting address and size for each of the storage volumes.
15. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein said receiving service information from each of the third level servers further comprises: receiving file system information, including information of folder structure from the each of the third level servers.
16. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second service pools is one of a video service pool, web service pool, storage service pool, file service, or database service pool and is displayed as a list on an operation console.
17. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein each of the top and middle level control servers comprises at least one control module designated for automatically collecting information from each of corresponding servers at one level below via executing a service pool construction protocol, and another control module for processing each task received from each client device.
18. The hierarchical system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second middle level control servers and the third level servers in each of the first and second service pools comprises at least one service module designated for automatically sending self information including internet protocol (IP) address to a corresponding control server at one level up via executing a service pool construction protocol, and another service module for processing a task received from a corresponding control server at one level up.
19. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein the top level control servers further updates the control pool whenever the first or second middle level control server being shutdown or disconnected, or a new third middle level control server joining the control pool via executing a service pool construction protocol.
20. The hierarchical system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second middle level control servers further updates corresponding service pool whenever a third level sever thereof being shutdown or disconnected, or a new third level server joining the corresponding service pool via executing a service pool construction protocol.