LFFS is a lock free distributed file system without servers or managers. It makes use of techniques from shared memory field to overcome distributed locking and fault tolerance problems. These
techniques allow the file system to scale to petabytes of data and to a theoretically unlimited number of clients. The system is built on top of a set of independent disks with enhanced functionality called {\it Object Based Storage Devices} (OBSD). The novelties presented in this work are: 1) the use of Read-Modify-Write operations in storage systems for synchronization purposes, 2) the introduction and use of a light-weight variation of the Load-Linked Store-Conditional operation, provided by the OBSD, and 3) the design of a file system using the above techniques. A prototype of LFFS is currently being implemented.
By: Edya Ladan, Ohad Rodeh, Dan Touitou
Published in: H-0177 in 2003
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE:
This Research Report is available. This report has been submitted for publication outside of IBM and will probably be copyrighted if accepted for publication. It has been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). I have read and understand this notice and am a member of the scientific community outside or inside of IBM seeking a single copy only.
Questions about this service can be mailed to reports@us.ibm.com .