Storage Virtualization Promises Agility in the Data Center

Data storage and protection has moved to the forefront of Information Technology solutions because the business value of data has gained in rank and importance in the world of internet commerce. Modern business models are built around instant and continuous data availability and they would not be able to function without this quality. This level of data availability requires data storage technologies to be of increased flexibility and higher performance. However the more sophisticated technologies pose a greater challenge to the architects of data storage solutions who are required to evaluate products of much higher complexity and administrators who need to manage and monitor these installations. New tool sets are required to leverage the promise of the storage virtualization technologies and extract their full potential for an agile data center. New tool sets for storage virtualization will bring the IT organizations into the position of data service provider for the business groups

Konfigurationsvalidierung und Entwurfsoptimierung von Speichernetzen

Storage Area Networks (SANs) connect groups of storage devices to servers over fast interconnects, so that storage resources can be pooled and assigned to applications in a flexible and scalable way. An important challenge lies in managing the complexity of the resulting massive SAN configurations. Policy-based validation has been proposed earlier as a solution to this configuration problem. We propose a light-weight, SQL-based solution that uses existing well-known technologies to implement such a validation system. Our approach is based on a relational database which stores conguration data extracted from the system via a WBEM standard interface. In contrast to other approaches, we use SQL to define our policy rules as executable checks on these configuration data. Another problem that is caused by the high complexity of a SAN is to find an optimal SAN design. Human SAN experts usually build a SAN topology following some rules of thumb. These rules lead often to a reliable SAN, but they do not necessarily minimize the total cost of the network, or provide a better topology to meet the Service Level Agreements (SLAs). In this dissertation, we also consider the problem of designing a SAN in an optimal way, while additionally taking a number of SLAs into account. First, we give an algorithm for assigning storage devices to applications running on the SAN's hosts. This algorithm tries to balance the workload as evenly as possible over all storage devices. Our second algorithm takes these assignments and computes the interconnections (data paths) that are necessary to achieve the desired configuration while respecting redundancy (safety) requirements in the SLAs. Again, this algorithm tries to balance the workload of all connections and devices. Thus, our network configurations respect all SLAs and provide flexibility for future changes by avoiding bottlenecks on storage devices or switches. We also discuss integrating our solution with the open source SAN management software Aperi.Die Speichernetze (Storage Area Networks - SANs) verbinden Gruppen von Speichergeräten zu den Servern über schnelle Verbindungsgeräte mit Hilfe der Protokolle wie Fibre Channel oder iSCSI, sodass Speicherressourcen den Servern in einer flexiblen und skalierbaren Weise zugeordnet werden können. Eine wichtige Herausforderung ist die Beherrschung der Komplexität der SAN-Konfiguration, die auf die hohe Skalierbarkeit des Netzes und auf die Zusammenschaltung der vielfältigen Geräte zurückzuführen ist. Policy-basierte Validierung wurde früher als eine Lösung für dieses Konfigurationsproblem vorgeschlagen. Mit SANchk wird eine leichtgewichtige SQL-basierte Lösung, in der vorhandene gutbekannte Technologien verwendet werden, vorgeschlagen, um ein solches System zu implementieren. Der Ansatz von SANchk basiert auf einer relationalen Datenbank, die die Konfigurationsdaten, die dem System durch eine WBEM-Standard-Schnittstelle entnommen worden sind, beinhaltet. Im Unterschied zu anderen Ansätzen benutzt SANchk SQL um Policy-Regeln and ausführbare Tests auf diese Konfigurationsdaten zu definieren. Ein anderes Problem, das von der hohen Komplexität eines SANs verursacht wird, ist die Frage nach einem optimalen SAN-Entwurf. Menschliche SAN-Experten bilden eine SAN-Topologie meistens durch die Verwendung von Daumenregeln. Diese Regeln führen oft zu einem zuverlässigen SAN, aber sie minimieren nicht nötigerweise die totale Kosten des Netzwerks oder bieten eine bessere Topologie um die Service Level Agreements (SLAs) zu tre#en. In dieser Dissertation betrachten wir auch das Problem des optimalen SAN-Entwurfs hinsichtlich der SLAs. Erst dedefinieren wir einen Algorithmus für die Zuweisung der Speichergeräte zu den Anwendungen auf den SAN-Hosts. Dieser Algorithmus versucht die Auslastung der Speichergeräte möglichst anzugleichen. Unserer zweite Algorithmus nimmt diese Zuweisungen ein und berechnet die Datenpfade, die nötig sind, um die gewünschte Konfiguration zu erreichen, unter der Berücksichtigung der Redundanzanforderungen. Auch dieser Algorithmus versucht die Auslastungen aller Verbindungen und Geräte anzugleichen. Folglich, unsere Netzwerkkonfigurationen respektieren alle SLAs und bieten Flexibilität für zukünftige Änderungen durch die Vermeidung der Engpässe an den Speichergeräten oder Switches. Wir erörtern auch die Integration unserer Lösung in die open-source SAN-Management-Software Aperi

Storage Area Networks

This tutorial compares Storage area Network (SAN) technology with previous storage management solutions with particular attention to promised benefits of scalability, interoperability, and high-speed LAN-free backups. The paper provides an overview of what SANs are, why invest in them, and how SANs can be managed. The paper also discusses a primary management concern, the interoperability of vendor-specific SAN solutions. Bluefin, a storage management interface and interoperability solution is also explained. The paper concludes with discussion of SAN-related trends and implications for practice and research

Proceedings of the NSSDC Conference on Mass Storage Systems and Technologies for Space and Earth Science Applications

The proceedings of the National Space Science Data Center Conference on Mass Storage Systems and Technologies for Space and Earth Science Applications held July 23 through 25, 1991 at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center are presented. The program includes a keynote address, invited technical papers, and selected technical presentations to provide a broad forum for the discussion of a number of important issues in the field of mass storage systems. Topics include magnetic disk and tape technologies, optical disk and tape, software storage and file management systems, and experiences with the use of a large, distributed storage system. The technical presentations describe integrated mass storage systems that are expected to be available commercially. Also included is a series of presentations from Federal Government organizations and research institutions covering their mass storage requirements for the 1990's

Sustainability in design: now! Challenges and opportunities for design research, education and practice in the XXI century

Copyright @ 2010 Greenleaf PublicationsLeNS project funded by the Asia Link Programme, EuropeAid, European Commission

Conceptual Building Information Modelling Framework for Whole‐house Refurbishment based on LCC and LCA

The UK government aims at achieving 80% CO2 emission reduction by 2050 which requires collective efforts across all the UK industry sectors. In particular, the housing sector has a large potential to contribute to achieving the aim because the housing sector alone accounts for 27% of the total UK CO2 emission, and furthermore, 87% of the housing which is responsible for current 27% CO2 emission will still stand in 2050. Therefore, it is essential to improve energy efficiency of existing housing stock built with low energy efficiency standard. In order for this, a whole‐house needs to be refurbished in a sustainable way by considering the life time financial and environmental impacts of a refurbished house. However, the current refurbishment process seems to be challenging to generate a financially and environmentally affordable refurbishment solution due to the highly fragmented nature of refurbishment practice and a lack of knowledge and skills about whole‐house refurbishment in the construction industry. In order to generate an affordable refurbishment solution, diverse information regarding costs and environmental impacts of refurbishment measures and materials should be collected and integrated in right sequences throughout the refurbishment project life cycle among key project stakeholders. Consequently, various researchers increasingly study a way of utilizing Building Information Modelling (BIM) to tackle current problems in the construction industry because BIM can support construction professionals to manage construction projects in a collaborative manner by integrating diverse information, and to determine the best refurbishment solution among various alternatives by calculating the life cycle costs and lifetime CO2 performance of a refurbishment solution. Despite the capability of BIM, the BIM adoption rate is low with 25% in the housing sector and it has been rarely studied about a way of using BIM for housing refurbishment projects. Therefore, this research aims to develop a BIM framework to formulate a financially and environmentally affordable whole‐house refurbishment solution based on the Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods simultaneously. In order to achieve the aim, a BIM feasibility study was conducted as a pilot study to examine whether BIM is suitable for housing refurbishment, and a BIM framework was developed based on the grounded theory because there was no precedent research. After the development of a BIM framework, this framework was examined by a hypothetical case study using BIM input data collected from questionnaire survey regarding homeowners’ preferences for housing refurbishment. Finally, validation of the BIM framework was conducted among academics and professionals by providing the BIM framework and a formulated refurbishment solution based on the LCC and LCA studies through the framework. As a result, BIM was identified as suitable for housing refurbishment as a management tool, and it is timely for developing the BIM framework. The BIM framework with seven project stages was developed to formulate an affordable refurbishment solution. Through the case study, the Building Regulation is identified as the most affordable energy efficiency standard which renders the best LCC and LCA results when it is applied for whole‐house refurbishment solution. In addition, the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard (FEES) is recommended when customers are willing to adopt high energy standard, and the maximum 60% of CO2 emissions can be reduced through whole‐house fabric refurbishment with the FEES. Furthermore, limitations and challenges to fully utilize BIM framework for housing refurbishment were revealed such as a lack of BIM objects with proper cost and environmental information, limited interoperability between different BIM software and limited information of LCC and LCA datasets in BIM system. Finally, the BIM framework was validated as suitable for housing refurbishment projects, and reviewers commented that the framework can be more practical if a specific BIM library for housing refurbishment with proper LCC and LCA datasets is developed. This research is expected to provide a systematic way of formulating a refurbishment solution using BIM, and to become a basis for further research on BIM for the housing sector to resolve the current limitations and challenges. Future research should enhance the BIM framework by developing more detailed process map and develop BIM objects with proper LCC and LCA Information

CERN openlab Whitepaper on Future IT Challenges in Scientific Research

This whitepaper describes the major IT challenges in scientific research at CERN and several other European and international research laboratories and projects. Each challenge is exemplified through a set of concrete use cases drawn from the requirements of large-scale scientific programs. The paper is based on contributions from many researchers and IT experts of the participating laboratories and also input from the existing CERN openlab industrial sponsors. The views expressed in this document are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of their organisations and/or affiliates

Visual grounded analysis : developing and testing a method for preliminary visual research

Approaching a new design project by performing preliminary visual research is a common practice in educational and studio settings, particularly in Jewellery and Fashion Design. Collecting images around a given subject or theme - for better understanding its visual traits, or for future reference - could be seen as the counterpart, in visual terms, of a literature search. However, ‘visual research’ is an expression often used rather vaguely for indicating a spectrum of unstructured methodological approaches, whose procedures and underlying assumptions tend to remain unexplained, undisclosed or unquestioned in everyday studio practice. When creative practice becomes an integral part of academic research, though, there is an increased need for rigor and explicitness regarding every aspect about it, including all the work preliminary to it. This research aims to develop and test a systematic method for conducting and documenting visual research in the preliminary stages of the design process, contributing to new knowledge in the form of a new visual method, also applicable as a design tool. A reflection on the vagueness and implicitness of the Intuitive Approach (IA) to visual research adopted in the initial stage of this PhD motivated the search for an alternative method that could make transparent and rigorous the taken-for-granted, subjective assumptions behind the research initially conducted. The iterative and data-driven nature of the IA oriented the methodological quest towards established qualitative approaches in the Social Sciences, focusing on Emergent Methods and Grounded Theory. By translating and adapting some of their procedures to suit a visual context, a new method, Grounded Visual Analysis (GVA), has been developed and tested, revealing its suitability for achieving a higher degree of explicitness and systematicity in the process of data collection and analysis, and increasing the richness of the visual patterns elicited from the data, thus their potential for stimulating reflective practice. The development of GVA is offered as the major contribution to knowledge of this research, together with its application on a practical case as the demonstration of its double functioning, either as a reflective method for conducting visual research in the preparatory phase of the design process, and as a design tool for stimulating the generation of new ideas and design briefs