A Structured Approach to Redundant Disk Array Implementation,

Abstract

Error recovery in redundant disk arrays is typically performed in an ad hoc fashion, requiring architecture-specific code which limits extensibility and is difficult to verify. In this paper, we describe a technique for automating the execution of redundant disk array operations, including recovery from errors, independent of array architecture. Our approach employs a graphical representation of array operations and a two-phase error-recovery scheme we refer to as roll-away error recovery. We demonstrate the validity of this approach in RAIDframe, a prototyping framework that separates architectural policy from execution mechanism. RAIDframe facilitates rapid prototyping of new RAID architectures by localizing modifications. In addition, RAIDframe-implemented architectures run the same code when configured as an event-driven simulator, a user-level application managing raw disks, and as a Digital Unix device-driver capable of mounting a file system. Evaluation shows that RAIDframe performance is equivalent to less complex array implementations and that case studies of RAID levels 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, and parity declustering achieve expected performance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 10, 1996
Accession Number
ADA311424

Entities

People

  • Garth Gibson
  • Jim Zelenka
  • Mark Holland
  • William V. Courtright Ii

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Case Studies
  • Computer Architecture
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer Science
  • Computers
  • Data Storage Systems
  • Databases
  • Device Drivers
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Mass Storage
  • Operating Systems
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • Software Prototyping
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Parallel and Distributed Computing.