Disk array simulation model development

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed development process of dynamic, discrete event simulation model for disk array. It combines a hierarchical decomposition with the "bottom up" approach. This way, at the beginning, the focus is set on the elementary storage component - a single disk drive. Once when functional simulation model for disk drive has been achieved it is used as a basic storage element for disk array model development. Further on, it is explored how to simulate different interfaces inside disk array, toward underlying disks. The difference in throughput produced by developed model and measurements is from 1.5-3.16 % for writing and from 2.5-2.8 % for reading, depending on interface type. However, such results are limited on workload imposed by the requirements of the ALICE transient storage system, or more precisely, sequential storing and reading of large data files. Copyright © 2011.