An alternative scalable storage system

Abstract

With the development of computer processor, the Input/Output (I/O) gap between the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the storage system widens. The storage system becomes the I/O bottleneck of the whole system. Solving this problem is a popular topic for many researchers. Redundant Array of Independent / Inexpensive Disks (RAID) is a widely used technique to handle this problem nowadays. Many RAID products are available on the market. However, for small companies, these products are too expensive. In this thesis, a design method will be introduced to set up a scalable Software RAID. Compared to the RAID products, Software RAID is cheaper and easier to realize. Customers can configure the Software RAID according to their own demands. Software RAID will be a suitable choice for small companies seeking storage solutions.