Self-* Storage: Brick-based Storage with Automated Administration (CMU-CS-03-178)

This white paper describes a new project exploring the design and implementation of “self-* storage systems:” self-organizing, self-configuring, self-tuning, self-healing, self-managing systems of storage bricks. Borrowing organizational ideas from corporate structure and automation technologies from AI and control systems, we hope to dramatically reduce the administrative burden currently faced by data center administrators. Further, compositions of lower cost components can be utilized, with available resources collectively used to achieve high levels of reliability, availability, and performance