System and method for implementing a networked file system utilizing a media library

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for implementing a file system utilizing a media library are disclosed. In particular, embodiments may present a network based file system to one or more host devices. These host devices may utilize the network based file system to organize, store, read or perform other operations in association with files. These files may be managed in conjunction with the media library.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing a network based file system, comprising:
 a media library, comprising:
 a set of drives, and 
 a set of media; and 
   an archive node appliance coupled to the media library and a set of hosts, the archive node appliance comprising a processor, a data store and a set of computer instructions executable on the processor to:   present an interface to a network based file system to the set of hosts,   receive a request to store a file at a first location associated with the network based file system over the network based file system interface,   store the file on the data store;   store the file at a second location on a media of the media library, wherein the second location mirrors the first location,   receive a request to read the file at the first location associated with the network based file system,   determine the media on which the file is stored,   access the file on the media at the second location, and   respond to the request over the network based file system interface using the file on the media.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media library is a tape library and the set of media comprise a set of tapes formatted according to the Linear Tape File System (LTFS). 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the archive node appliance wherein storing the file at the second location on the media comprises:
 storing the file in the data store at a third location, and   migrating the file to the second location after a migration timeout period.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein migrating the file comprises:
 determining a tape of the set of tapes on which the file is to be stored;   determining if the tape is in one of the set of drives of the tape library and if not, loading the tape into a drive;   mounting the LTFS file system of the tape;   determining if the second location exists on the tape and if not, creating the second location on the tape; and   storing the file at the second location on the tape.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the set of computer instructions are executable to maintain a map comprising an association between the first location, the second location and the third location. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first location was created by a user at one of the set of hosts using the network based file system interface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein accessing the file on the media comprises:
 determining the tape on which the file is stored using the map and the first location;   determining if the tape is in one of the set of drives of the tape library and if not, loading the tape into a drive;   mounting the LTFS file system on the tape; and   accessing the file on the tape at the second location using LTFS.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the set of computer instructions are executable to maintain a read cache in the data store and responding to the request over the network based file system interface comprises:
 accessing a first portion of the file in the read cache; and   responding to the request over the network based file system interface using the first portion of the file.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions, the instructions for:
 presenting an interface to a network based file system to a set of hosts;   receiving a request to store a file at a first location associated with the network based file system over the network based file system interface;   storing the file on a data store;   storing the file at a second location on a media of a media library comprising a set of drives and a set of media, wherein the second location mirrors the first location;   receiving a request to read the file at the first location associated with the network based file system;   determining the media on which the file is stored;   accessing the file on the media at the second location; and   responding to the request over the network based file system interface using the file on the media.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the media library is a tape library and the set of media comprise a set of tapes formatted according to the Linear Tape File System (LTFS). 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein storing the file at the second location on the media comprises:
 storing the file in the data store at a third location, and   migrating the file to the second location after a migration timeout period.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein migrating the file comprises:
 determining a tape of the set of tapes on which the file is to be stored;   determining if the tape is in one of the set of drives of the tape library and if not, loading the tape into a drive;   mounting the LTFS file system of the tape;   determining if the second location exists on the tape and if not, creating the second location on the tape; and   storing the file at the second location on the tape.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the set of computer instructions are further for maintaining a map comprising an association between the first location, the second location and the third location. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first location was created by a user at one of the set of hosts using the network based file system interface. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein accessing the file on the media comprises:
 determining the tape on which the file is stored using the map and the first location;   determining if the tape is in one of the set of drives of the tape library and if not, loading the tape into a drive;   mounting the LTFS file system on the tape; and   accessing the file on the tape at the second location using LTFS.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the set of computer instructions are further executable to maintain a read cache in the data store and responding to the request over the network based file system interface comprises:
 accessing a first portion of the file in the read cache; and   responding to the request over the network based file system interface using the first portion of the file.   
     
     
         17 . A method for implementing a network based file system, comprising:
 presenting an interface to a network based file system to a set of hosts;   receiving a request to store a file at a first location associated with the network based file system over the network based file system interface;   storing the file on a data store;   storing the file at a second location on a media of a media library comprising a set of drives and a set of media, wherein the second location mirrors the first location;   receiving a request to read the file at the first location associated with the network based file system;   determining the media on which the file is stored;   accessing the file on the media at the second location; and   responding to the request over the network based file system interface using the file on the media.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the media library is a tape library and the set of media comprise a set of tapes formatted according to the Linear Tape File System (LTFS). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein storing the file at the second location on the media comprises:
 storing the file in the data store at a third location, and   migrating the file to the second location after a migration timeout period.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein migrating the file comprises:
 determining a tape of the set of tapes on which the file is to be stored;   determining if the tape is in one of the set of drives of the tape library and if not, loading the tape into a drive;   mounting the LTFS file system of the tape;   determining if the second location exists on the tape and if not, creating the second location on the tape; and   storing the file at the second location on the tape.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising maintaining a map comprising an association between the first location, the second location and the third location. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first location was created by a user at one of the set of hosts using the network based file system interface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein accessing the file on the media comprises:
 determining the tape on which the file is stored using the map and the first location;   determining if the tape is in one of the set of drives of the tape library and if not, loading the tape into a drive;   mounting the LTFS file system on the tape; and   accessing the file on the tape at the second location using LTFS.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising maintaining a read cache in the data store and wherein responding to the request over the network based file system interface comprises:
 accessing a first portion of the file in the read cache; and   responding to the request over the network based file system interface using the first portion of the file.