Patent ID: 8103772
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for managing data storage servers, the method steps performed by one or more processors and comprising: establishing, by the one or more processors, a cluster of back-end servers organized into at least one leaf node, every back-end server in any leaf node mirroring every other back-end server in the same leaf-node; establishing, by the one or more processors, a predefined set of ultimate identifiers for nodes that could be created in the cluster, each leaf node in the cluster having a node identifier that is unique in the cluster and one of the predefined set of ultimate identifiers; storing every new data object on the cluster on particular back-end servers assigned to a particular leaf node of the at least one leaf node, the particular leaf node having a particular node identifier that identifies a subset of the set of ultimate identifiers, and providing for each new data object a universal identifier that combines splitting, by the one or more processors, a first leaf node of the at least one leaf node into at least two new leaf nodes that replace the first leaf node; and assigning, by the one or more processors, to each new leaf node, at least one of the back-end servers of the first leaf node such that replacing the first leaf node reassigns the back-end servers, originally organized in the first leaf node, to the new leaf nodes, where assigning back-end servers to one of the new leaf nodes includes: