Distributed file system with automated file management achieved by decoupling data analysis and movement operations

1. Field of the Invention A computer-driven file management technique is applied to a distributed file system with multiple storage "aggregates" to improve file distribution, user access, server workload, and the like. For a first aggregate, a recognition module analyzes file contents of all aggregates, plans a set of physical data movement operations to configure data stored upon a first one of the aggregates according to certain prescribed "goals," and buffers the planned physical data movement operations. The planned set of physical data movement operations constitute a "virtual" data move. The reviewing, planning, and buffering operations are repeated for all remaining aggregates in the distributed file system. However, each repeated reviewing operation considers the file contents of the aggregates as if all previous virtual data moves had actually been performed. Asynchronously with the storage analysis and reconfiguration planning, the system processes the action buffer. Namely, the system reads buffer contents according to a prescribed order, consults predetermined action "rules," and then carries out the physical data moves in accordance with the action rules. The action rules may specify desirable hours to move data or avoid moving data, for example.