Redirecting File Access in Linux File System
Abstract: The presentation is based on part of my research work on the project: Highly Available Mobile Distributed File. In the project, the cache technology is introduced into the server side replication. It increases the availability of the distribute file. Meanwhile, by using cache technology, the cost of the replication is minimized. In this project, seamless redirection is very important when there is access failure in the distributed file system. We need to analyze the best approach to redirect the access.
The presentation will focus on the redirection approaches based on the Linux file system architecture. We will analyst how each layer in the file system works. We will look at technologies like VFS (Virtual Filesystem Switch), LKM (Loadable Kernel Module used by the Linux kernel to expand its functionality) and Stackable File System(to add a new layer for required new functionality). We will discuss how to apply those technologies to the redirection mechanism. All the possible approaches will be discussed. As well as the advantage of each approach and the issue of the approach. We will then have a conclusion of which approach should we take in certain condition.