Protocols for locking sharable files and methods for carrying out the protocols
Methods for locking a file managed by a file system are provided. One example, a file consistency protocol is associated with an operating system (O/S). The file consistency protocol is configured to maintain file consistency between instances of the file associated with the file system using a set of file consistency protocol bits. The method includes determining whether any instance of the file is open, and if no instance of the file is open, the method further includes setting an exclusive bit of the file, the exclusive bit being one of the set of file consistency protocol bits. The setting of the exclusive bit is configured to lock the file from being accessed as another instance.</PTEXT>