YFS, a High Performance Global File System That is Backward Compatible with AFS

The High Energy Physics community has used the Andrew File System (AFS) for the last fifteen years in order to provide collaborative data access that collectively reaches petabyte scale. Transitioning to alternative file systems has proven difficult due to the number of deployed clients, the quantity of stored data, and dependencies on functional behaviors unique to AFS. AFS protocols no longer can provide acceptable scalability or throughput performance at the speed of current day networks and CPUs. As a result, a need exists for a new global file system that is backward-compatible with AFS and provides the scalability, throughput, and client-operating-system compatibility required to satisfy the needs of applications throughout the next decade. This project will improve upon the scalability and performance of AFS, while providing backward-compatibility with existing clients and permitting a smooth server transition. During Phase I, feasibility was demonstrated by improving the performance of the existing OpenAFS Rx/UDP protocol implementation. Phase II will focus on improving Rx/UDP retransmission algorithms, optimizing data structures and algorithms, and providing an improved user experience. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the application to DOE laboratories that use AFS, the technology should benefit private companies in the financial, manufacturing, and service industries. Beyond that, it is believed that the next generation of mobile devices, such as the Nokia N-series Internet Tablet and the Google Android cell phone, could take advantage of a secure global-access data storehouse, preventing the need to copy data onto each and every device and flash disk.