Patent ID: 8452821
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for utilizing directory services to provide efficient maintenance of metadata related to distributed file system (DFS) links, by maintaining metadata regarding each DFS link in a single DFS namespace as attributes of one or more corresponding distinct directory objects, the system comprising at least one processor and memory for storing a plurality of components comprising: a DFS root target component that hosts at least one DFS namespace that includes a plurality of DFS links, each DFS link aggregating a plurality of network resources, the DFS root target component providing access to the plurality of DFS links to one or more clients, the DFS root target component storing locally a copy of metadata related to each DFS link to provide the access, the metadata comprising information for accessing and managing each DFS link, including authentication information for accessing each DFS link and versioning information for synchronizing the metadata between the DFS root target component and a directory services directory; and a directory component that provides the directory services directory and that synchronizes the metadata with the DFS root target component based on the versioning information, the directory component maintaining a distinct directory object for each of the plurality of DFS links in the at least one DFS namespace, each distinct directory object storing corresponding metadata related to a corresponding DFS link as one or more attributes of the distinct directory object, such that each of the plurality of DFS links of the at least one DFS namespace is represented by its own distinct directory object in the directory services directory.