Patent ID: 7640279

Claim:
A method to replicate one or more files between non-symmetric storage systems, comprising the step of: supplying a first storage system comprising a first metadata server, a first configuration, a first volume, a first file system; supplying a first replication appliance comprising first replication appliance memory, wherein said first replication appliance is external to but in communication with said first storage system; supplying a second storage system comprising a second configuration, a second volume, a second file system; supplying a second replication appliance comprising second replication appliance memory, wherein said second replication appliance is external to but in communication with said second storage system, and wherein said first replication appliance is external to but in communication with said second replication appliance; wherein said first configuration differs from said second configuration; providing a dataset to said first storage system; writing said dataset to said first volume as a first file; generating by said first metadata server a first inode for said dataset; providing said first inode to said second replication appliance; replicating said first file to said second volume as a second file; generating by said second replication appliance a second inode for said second file; maintaining in said second replication appliance memory a second replication appliance mapping, wherein said second replication mapping associates said first file with said second file.