Patent ID: 8595184

Claim:
One or more computer-readable disks or memories that store executable instructions to handle metadata, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform acts comprising: receiving, from an entity, a request concerning an item of metadata; identifying a partition that stores said item of metadata, wherein a body of metadata is divided into a first plurality of partitions, said partition being one of said first plurality of partitions; providing, to said entity, an identity of a node that handles requests for said partition; receiving at said node, from said entity, said request; reading or writing said item of metadata in accordance with said request; each of said first plurality of partitions being served by a first node and by a second node that is distinct from said first node, and said identifying comprising: identifying only said first node when said request comprises a write request; identifying either said first node or said second node when said request comprises a read request; splitting said first one of said first plurality of partitions into a second partition and a third partition, said first node being assigned to said second partition, said second node being assigned to said third partition; determining that said third partition contains only nodes that can handle read requests and does not contain any nodes that can handle write requests; and upgrading said second node to being a node that can handle both read requests and write requests for said third partition.