Patent ID: 7428540
Filing Date: 2008-09-23
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A network storage system comprising: a storage port for accessing at a client, a virtual file system and a plurality of storage centers, the storage port, mounted at the client, translates a client local file system request to a network storage file system request including a file identifier identifying a file in a single file system; a virtual file system (“VFS”) storing file system information for the single file system, wherein the client of the network storage system accesses the VFS via the storage port over a network to manage a plurality of files of the single file system, and wherein the client receives a generated storage resource locator (“SRL”) from the VFS in response to the network storage file system request to access the file in the single file system; the plurality of storage centers, located in geographically disparate locations from each other, the client and the VFS, and coupled to the client through a wide area, public access network, each of the storage centers storing a plurality of files for the single file system, wherein the client of the network storage system transmits the received SRL directly to one of the storage centers over the wide area, public access network, and downloads the file over the wide area, public access network, and wherein the SRL includes a public access network address for a storage center to access one of the storage centers over the wide area, public access network and a unique identifier associated with contents of the file to uniquely identify the file stored at the one of the storage centers; and at least one additional storage port for accessing the virtual file system and the storage centers in an event of a failover condition of the storage port.