Patent ID: 6754696
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
In a computer system, a method of providing access to file system object data, comprising:receiving a request to read data from a client application, the data residing on at least one of a local and a remote source, the client application being unaware of where the data resides, wherein the remote source includes a plurality of servers that are enlisted to provide the data; determining where the data resides; if the data does not reside on the local source, retrieving the data from the remote source and storing at least some of the data on the local source; otherwise retrieving the data from the local source; providing the data to the client application; receiving a request from the client application to modify the data; modifying at least some of the data that is stored on the local source; and automatically updating the data on the remote source to synchronize the data on the remote source with the data on the local source, wherein a server enlists to provide the data by performing acts, comprising: sending an enlist primitive to notify the plurality of servers that the server wants to participate in providing the data; and receiving a response from at least one of the plurality of servers.