File, Directories, and Handles

Let's explore how Chubby works with files, directories, and handles.

Chubby file system interface is basically a tree of files and directories, where each directory contains a list of child files and directories. Each file or directory is called a node.

Nodes

• Any node can act as an advisory reader/writer lock.
• Nodes may either be ephemeral or permanent.
• Ephemeral files are used as temporary files, and act as an indicator to others that a client is alive.
• Ephemeral files are also deleted if no client has them open.
• Ephemeral directories are also deleted if they are empty.