Patent ID: 6324581
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
In a data network having a plurality of data mover computers that control access to respective file systems in data storage, a method of permitting a first data mover computer to access a file system to which access is controlled by a second data mover computer, said method comprising:(a) the first data mover computer sending to the second data mover computer at least one request for access to a file in the file system to which access is controlled by the second data mover computer;(b) the second data mover computer receiving said at least one request for access to the file, granting to the first data mover a lock on at least a portion of the file, and returning to the first data mover computer metadata of the file including information specifying data storage locations in data storage for storing data of the file;(c) the first data mover computer receiving from the second data mover computer the metadata of the file, using the metadata of the file to produce at least one data access command for accessing the data storage locations in the data storage, and sending the data access command to the data storage to access the data storage locations in the data storage; and(d) the data storage responding to the data access command by accessing the data storage locations in the data storage.