Patent attributes
A retention-based consistent hash ring process defines each file name in the system to include its expiration date (or time) as a prefix or suffix that is stored and indexed as metadata. The process uses a virtual node to represent adjacent expiration days to create virtual nodes based on individual days of the week. Each physical node contains the same number of labeled virtual nodes, and the consistent hash ring process is used to move files with the same expiration day to different physical nodes by looking for next labeled virtual nodes on the hash ring. This provides a way to locate the virtual node storage location by specifying a file's expiration date as part of the key used in the hash ring process, and distributes files that may otherwise be assigned to the same physical node through a backup policy.
