Patent ID: 8285759
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A machine-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by a server, a request to access a file from a client executing a first operating system using a protocol associated with a first file system; determining, by a file system support service executing within a second operating system on the server, a first format in which to provide the file to the client based on the protocol, wherein the file is natively stored in a second format at a first location on a second file system, wherein the second file system is different from the first file system, and wherein the second operating system is different from the first operating system; designating, by the file system support service, the file stored in the second format as a primary data stream; accessing, by the file system support service, an identifier stored in an extended attribute of the primary data stream, wherein the identifier identifies a secondary data stream associated with the first file format, wherein the secondary data stream is stored at a second location on the second file system, and wherein the second location is a secure and hidden location within the second file system and separate and apart from the primary data stream associated with the file; acquiring, based on the identifier, the secondary data stream, wherein the secondary data stream is natively stored in the second format on the second file system; assembling the file in the first format using the primary data stream and the secondary data stream; and delivering the file in the first format via the protocol to the client; storing, in an extended attribute of the secondary data stream, a reverse link from the secondary data stream to the primary data stream, wherein the reverse link comprises an inode number that represents the primary data stream; updating the file in the first format based on the request; and maintaining the secondary data stream at the second location.