CAREER: Automated Storage Manager - An Operating System for Input/Output Devices on Storage Area Networks

存储系统已经从文件服务器控制下的简单磁盘发展到使用网络附加存储（NAS）和局域网（SAN）技术连接到网络的大型独立磁盘阵列系统。这些存储系统的一个独特之处在于，它们可由运行在独立计算机上的应用程序直接访问，而无需文件服务器的干预。然而，一个缺点是，由于数据密集型应用程序和连接到网络的存储设备的数量对这些系统的要求越来越高，因此这些系统非常难以管理。我们建议通过自动化的存储管理任务，并结合性能技术，以提供系统的“智能”，以适应不断变化的存储和工作负载条件，以改善这种存储系统的管理。从本质上讲，这种存储管理软件系统将控制和管理对网络上存储设备的所有访问，就像操作系统管理和控制对计算机系统的所有访问一样。存储管理器将允许应用程序表达其响应时间、可用性和带宽要求，然后使用此信息以及它对设备行为和应用程序访问模式的了解，沿着决定如何最好地将数据映射到设备，从而满足应用程序约束和存储系统目标。在此基础上，我们预计将开发出用户友好的自我管理存储系统，这些系统比当前手动配置和管理的系统更具成本效益、更高效、更可用。我们的教育目标是将性能评估工具和技术集成到新罕布什尔州大学的计算机科学课程中。将在存储管理系统上工作的学生将需要绩效评估技能，我们的教育计划解决了这一问题。我们的长期目标是与行业和其他机构合作，实施自我管理的存储系统，并使其可用于研究和教育目的。

Storage systems have evolved from simple disks under the control of file servers to large, indepen-dent disk-array systems connected to the network using Network-Attached Storage (NAS) and StorageArea Network (SAN) technology. A unique feature of these storage systems is that they are directlyaccessible by applications running on independent computers without the intervention of file servers.A downside, however, is that these systems are very difficult to manage because of the increased de-mands placed on them by data intensive applications and the number of storage devices connected tothe network. We propose to improve the management of such storage systems by automating thestorage management tasks and incorporating performance techniques to provide the system with the\intelligence" to adapt to varying storage and workload conditions. In essence, this storage manage-ment software system will control and manage all access to storage devices on the network, much asan operating system manages and controls all access to a computer system. The storage manager willallow applications to express their response time, availability, and bandwidth requirements, and thenuse this information along with its knowledge of device behaviors and application access patterns todecide how best to map data to devices such that application constraints and storage system goalsare met. Based on this work, we anticipate the development of user-friendly, self-managed storagesystems that are more cost-effective, efficient, and available than current systems that are configuredand managed manually.Our education goal is to integrate performance evaluation tools and techniques into the ComputerScience curriculum at the University of New Hampshire. Students who will work on the storagemanagement system will require performance evaluation skills and our education plan addresses thisissue. Our long-term goal is to coordinate with industry and other institutions to implement aself-managing storage system and make itavailable for research and educational purposes.