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演变为使用网络连接存储(NAS)和存储区域网络(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特征是，运行在独立计算机上的应用程序可以直接访问它们，而无需文件服务器的干预。然而，缺点是这些系统很难管理，因为数据密集型应用程序对它们的需求增加了，而且连接到网络的存储设备的数量也增加了。我们建议通过自动化存储管理任务并结合性能技术来改进此类存储系统的管理，从而为系统提供智能，以适应不同的存储和工作负载条件。本质上，该存储管理软件系统将控制和管理对网络上的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，然后将这些信息与其对设备行为和应用程序访问模式的知识一起使用，以决定如何最好地将数据映射到设备，从而满足应用程序限制和存储系统目标。基于这项工作，我们预计将开发用户友好、自我管理的存储系统，这些系统比当前手动配置和管理的系统更具成本效益、效率和可用性。我们的教育目标是将性能评估工具和技术整合到新汉普郡大学的计算机科学课程中。将在仓储管理系统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协调，实施自我管理的存储系统，并将其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.