SECURITY SYSTEM FOR REPLICATED STORAGE DEVICES ON COMPUTER NETWORKS

Through associating each data partition within a replicated storage domain of networked storage devices with one of multiple secret keys shared with a file manager, a credential is issued from the file manager to a client requesting access to a partition. The credential includes a network address for the partition to which the client is to direct its actions. The storage device periodically confirms with the file manager the validity of the shared secret keys. Through logical process and evaluations applied to issuing the credential and determining the address of the partition to be included in each credential, the file manager may invalidate partitions individually, provide load balancing between access of original and replica partitions, and provide security functions such as isolation of partitions for access by and tracking of unauthorized users, or for testing purposes.