Patent ID: 7370025

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: replicating data from a first volume to a second volume, wherein a first storage device comprises said first volume, a second storage device comprises said second volume, said replicating is performed utilizing a replication facility, and said replicating said data from said first volume to said second volume results in a replicated copy of said data within said second volume; and providing access to said replicated copy of said data, wherein said providing comprises receiving an access request for said replicated copy of said data utilizing a remote access file system client local to said second node comprising receiving a write request for said replicated copy of said data, arbitrating access to said data utilizing a remote access file system server local to said first node in response to said receiving, performing a write operation on said data within said first volume utilizing said remote access file system in response to receiving said write request for said replicated copy of said data, and replicating said data from said first volume to said second volume in response to said performing, said access is provided utilizing a remote access file system, said access is provided to said replicated copy of said data concurrently with said replicating of said data, and said remote access file system is separate from said replication facility; storing said data within said first volume, wherein said storing comprises storing said data within a first volume associated with a first node; and replicating said data from said first volume to said second volume in response to said storing, wherein said replicating comprises replicating said data to a second volume associated with a second node.