Patent ID: 7769711

Claim:
A method of using an administrator device to manage a distributed, segmented single file system implemented by a plurality of file servers that are configured to control metadata of separate segments of the single file system, the single file system including file system entities residing in the segments and comprising at least portions of one of files and directories, the method comprising: sending a control-migration signal from the administrator to a first file server that controls a particular segment of the file system and to a second file server that is to take control of the particular segment, the control-migration signal indicating to the first file server to stop controlling the particular segment and indicating to the second file server to start controlling the particular segment; and sending an allow-access signal from the administrator to the second file server indicating to the second file server to allow access to a file system entity of the particular segment by the second file server without changing a storage location of the file system entity of the particular segment; wherein access to the particular segment by the second file server is allowed only after the first file server stops controlling the particular segment.