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 sys- tems:" 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 sys- tems, we hope to dramatically reduce the administra- tive burden currently faced by data center administra- tors. Further, compositions of lower cost components can be utilized, with available resources collectively used to achieve high levels of reliability, availability, and per- formance.