Patent ID: 7890469

Claim:
A method comprising: updating file change log data to indicate that a change to a file has occurred, wherein the file change log comprises a superblock, the file is one of a plurality of files in a file system, the file change log data comprise a file identifier of the file, the file identifier is usable to obtain a full path name for the file from a reverse name lookup function, the file change log data are maintained by a first node, wherein the first node implements a first file system, the file change log data are accessible using a file system-independent operating system function, and the file system-independent operating system function does not vary in accordance with a type of the file system; accessing a value in the superblock, wherein the accessing is performed by a second node; identifying a portion of the file change log data based on the value; and accessing the portion of the file change log data wherein the accessing is performed by the second node, wherein the second node implements a file system other than the first file system.