Dispersed Data Storage Network File System Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispersed data storage networks face challenges in providing reliable and secure data storage, as they often rely on single-location solutions that are prone to failures and security breaches, and traditional file systems are not optimized for distributed data storage, leading to performance issues and security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A dispersed data storage network is presented as a block device, using an iSCSI interface and a File/Object interface that eliminates the need for file system metadata, allowing for efficient data dispersal and reconstruction, and provides a virtual file system interface for improved performance and security, enabling transactional operations and caching to enhance reliability and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If data is stored in a single location, then storage simplicity is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides data into multiple segments and stores them across different physical locations using dispersion algorithms. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple storage operations at each location while ensuring reliability through distribution across multiple sites, directly resolving the contradiction between storage simplicity and data reliability.
2Reliability
If data is backed up in a separate location, then reliability is improved, but security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different security measures to different data segments stored at different locations. Each segment can have tailored security protocols based on its location and sensitivity, allowing the system to maintain high reliability through redundancy while managing security risks locally at each storage site rather than creating a single vulnerable backup target.
3Reliability
If data is split into multiple stripes using RAID, then reliability is improved, but security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the segmentation concept beyond RAID by distributing data segments across geographically dispersed locations rather than just multiple drives. This allows the system to maintain RAID-like reliability benefits while adding security through physical separation and location-based access controls that prevent single-point security failures.
4Ease of operation
If traditional file systems are used with dispersed storage, then data organization is improved, but performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file system layer that acts as an intermediary between user applications and the dispersed storage infrastructure. This intermediary handles data organization, segmentation, and reconstruction transparently, allowing users to access dispersed storage with simple file operations while the intermediary optimizes performance by managing data retrieval and assembly across multiple locations.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If encryption is used to secure data, then security is improved, but accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments encryption keys and encryption operations across different locations, with each storage site holding only a portion of the decryption capability. This allows the system to maintain strong security through distributed key management while preserving accessibility, as authorized users can retrieve and decrypt data through coordinated access to multiple segments without requiring centralized key management that would create security bottlenecks.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer a network interface and a central processing unit. The network interface communicates with a network. The central processing unit (CPU) is operable to receive a networked file system access request packet and to identify a root directory based on the networked file system access request packet. The CPU then identifies a file directory based on the root directory and the networked file system access request packet. The CPU then identifies file object metadata based on the file directory and identifies a set of slice servers based on the file object metadata and the networked file system access request packet. The CPU then issues, via the network interface, a set of commands to a set of slice servers regarding the networked file system access request packet.