Abstract:
A delta pager maintains a database with atomic, isolated transactions. When a transaction seeks to make changes to the database, the delta pager stores the changes in write buffers, and applies the changes when intervening transactions do not literally or substantively change the state of the database relied upon by the transaction. The delta pager applies the changes to commit the transaction by conjoining the write buffers with the current state of the database to form a new data structure representing the state of the database. The delta pager coalesces write buffers to maintain efficiency, subject to snapshots the delta pager respects to preserve selected states of the database. The delta pager makes selected sections of the database durable by moving selected data to a durable store. The delta pager also provides cache objects between the durable store and current transactions to promote efficient access to data.
Abstract:
Scalable leases reduce latency and reduce the burden on a server in managing data leases. Instead of processing individual lease requests for clients seeking access to the same data, scalable leases provide for blanket leases that all of the clients can use to access the selected data. Leases may be encrypted or selectively distributed to restrict access to the data. Moreover, distributed data structures may be used to cache leases at identifiable nodes in a network to offload work from the server without all clients in the network having to cache all blanket leases issued. Thresholds for issuing blanket leases may be determined or adjusted by considerations such as demand for the selected data and server workload. Similarly, leases may be renewed on the basis of demand for selected data, conflicting lease requests, and other factors. Scalable leases may be issued for read leases and controlled write leases.
Abstract:
A distributed computing system can be operated in a fault tolerant manner using a set of computing devices. A set of computing devices can tolerate a number of failures by implementing identical replicas of a state machine and selecting proposals. The set of computing devices participating in the distributed computing system by hosting replicas can be modified by adding or removing a computing device from the set, or by specifying particular computing devices for participation. Changing the participating computing devices in the set increases fault tolerance by replacing defective devices with operational devices, or by increasing the amount of redundancy in the system.