Patent ID: 8103639

Claim:
A method of performing a file system consistency check in a distributed, segmented file system, the method comprising: analyzing primary objects of a first segment of the file system to determine if a first primary object points to a second primary object of a second segment separate from the first segment, the file system including a root directory and being organized such that any file or directory of the file system is accessible by traversing the file system starting from the root directory, the first segment including a primary name space having primary objects, the first segment further including a shadow directory; storing, if the first primary object points to the second primary object of the second segment, a first indication indicating that the first primary object points to the second primary object of the second segment, the first indication indicating a location of the second primary object; analyzing the shadow directory of the selected segment to determine a location of a third primary object, and a pointer of the third primary object indicative of a location and a name of a fourth primary object, the third primary object being contained in a segment other than the first segment; and storing a second indication indicating the location of the third primary object and the pointer of the third primary object.