In most file systems, a typical file hierarchy is represented as a series of folders or directories that form a tree-like structure. Each folder or directory could contain many other folders or directories, file objects, or other file-system objects, such as symbolic links or hard links. Every file system object has a name associated with it, and it is represented in the namespace as a node of the tree.
SAN File System introduces a new file system object, called a fileset. A fileset can be viewed as a portion of the tree-structured hierarchy (or global namespace). It is created to divide the global namespace into a logical, organized structure. Filesets attach to other directories in the hierarchy, ultimately attaching through the hierarchy to the root of the SAN File System cluster mount point. The collection of filesets and their content in SAN File System along with the file system root combine to form the global namespace. Fileset boundaries are not visible to the clients; only the administrator of SAN File System can see them.
From a client's perspective, a fileset appears as a regular directory or folder within which the clients can create their own regular directories and files. Clients cannot delete or rename the directories that represent filesets.
The root of the global namespace is the global fileset. The name of the global fileset is always ROOT. The directory path of the global fileset is specified when you set up the global namespace and is the same as the cluster name sanfs.
You can detach a fileset and reattach it at the same location or a different location. If a fileset is reattached at a different location, all the files contained in the fileset are rooted to the new location without any further operations. Before a fileset can be detached, any nested filesets must be detached first.
Parent topic: Concepts
Related concepts
Policies and rules
Related tasks
Attaching a fileset
Creating a fileset
Listing filesets
Viewing fileset details
Viewing fileset settings