Performance analysis of a storage hierarchy for video servers
Hideharu Suzuki, Kazutoshi Nishimura, Hideki Sakamoto · Systems and Computers in Japan · 1997
With the aim of developing a video server architecture that satisfies incoming requests without delay, has very large storage capacity, and is cost effective, this paper evaluates the performance of a hierarchical video server storage system that consists of magnetic disk arrays and a tertiary mass storage system. The optimum hardware configuration and video file allocation are identified for files allocated to magnetic disk arrays in order of access frequency by running a series of simulations to satisfy a specified average waiting time constraint. It is shown by a numerical example that, when video files are partitioned for storage with a leader stored on faster magnetic disk arrays and the rest of the file stored on a mass storage system, there is an optimum file allocation where the average waiting time until playback of a requested video stream is minimized. Finally, it is quantitatively demonstrated that the storage unit cost ratio of a two-level hierarchical storage system combining faster magnetic disk arrays with a slower mass storage system is superior to that of a storage system configured out of magnetic disks alone. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Syst Comm Jpn, 28(7): 11–20, 1997