How do I get access to a Google Compute VM Filesystem remotely using the Java API?

Question

I'm building a framework application for managing files between compute engines based on their roles. I've been able to find a lot of information for managing the compute engines themselves, but nothing for getting access to them to manage files.

Answer 1

There is no Google API for reading and writing to instance filesystems from outside the instance. You will need to run a service on the instance (ftp, sftp, whatever) if you want external access to its filesystem.

Answer 2

Fratzke, first of all your question is incomplete, what platform are you using on compute engine instances, do you want only read only access ?

Note if you want a persistence disk to be shared among many compute engine instances, you can do that only in read only mode. The google documentation clearly states that :

It is possible to attach a persistent disk to more than one instance. However, if you attach a persistent disk to multiple instances, all instances must attach the persistent disk in read-only mode. It is not possible to attach the persistent disk to multiple instances in read-write mode.

However, you can share files between multiple instances using the managed services like google cloud storage , google cloud datastore etc. Answer for similar question is already on SO. Refer this links:

Share a persistent disk between Google Compute Engine VMs

Edit:
If you want to access a filesystem on a multiple instances remotely using JAVA, then they have to make filesystem available with a service. Such a service is typically a background job, which handles incoming requests and returns a response, eg for authentication, authorization, reading and writing. The specification of the request/response pattern is called a protocol - eg NFS on UNIX/LINUX. U cn write ur own file service provider & run it on the instnces. As transport layer for such an endeavor sockets (TCP/IP) can be used. good transport layer would be the http protocol, eg with a restful service.

Edit - 2

Nother possibility is using sshfs , mount the filesystem on each instance and use them within your java code as mounted network shared drive.

Hope this helps you ...Warm Regards.