US Patent 7412449 File object storage and retrieval using hashing techniques

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating hash slot subdirectories within a file system, identifying each hash slot subdirectory by a unique identifier, receiving a document, hashing a name of the document to generate a hash value, selecting a hash slot subdirectory that corresponds to the hash value, generating a document subdirectory within the selected hash slot subdirectory, identifying the document subdirectory by the name of the document, and storing the document in the document subdirectory. Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, receiving a request for a document, hashing a name of the document to generate a hash value, selecting a hash slot subdirectory having a unique identifier that corresponds to the hash value, locating a document subdirectory within the selected hash slot subdirectory that is identified by the name of the document, and retrieving the document from the document subdirectory.