A time-predictable system initialization design for huge-capacity flash-memory storage systems

ABSTRACT

The capacity of flash-memory storage systems grows at a speed similar to many other storage systems. In order to properly manage the product cost, vendors face serious challenges in system designs. How to provide an expected system initialization time for huge-capacity flash-memory storage systems has become an important research topic. In this paper, a time-predictable system initialization design is proposed for huge-capacity flash-memory storage systems. The objective of the design is to provide an expected system initialization time based on a coarse-grained flash translation layer. The time-predictable analysis of the design is provided to discuss the relation between the size of main memory and the system initialization time. The system initialization time can be also estimated and predicted by the time-predictable analysis.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.3 SPECIAL-PURPOSE AND APPLICATION-BASED SYSTEMS
      Subjects: Real-time and embedded systems

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.3 MEMORY STRUCTURES
      B.3.2 Design Styles
          Subjects: Mass storage (e.g., magnetic, optical, RAID)

  D. Software
  D.4 OPERATING SYSTEMS
      D.4.2 Storage Management
          Subjects: Secondary storage

General Terms:
Design, Management, Performance

Keywords:
embedded systems, flash memory, flash translation layer, storage systems