Active block layout: a high performance disk layout mechanism

In traditional computer infrastructure, almost all the files that can be randomly accessed are stored on the disk. This paper presents a new Active Block Layout (ABL) mechanism. Basing on this mechanism, the friequently accessed data blocks are automatically copied and optimizedly distributed on the disk. By improving the access speed of these data blocks, we can enhance the performance of the storage system. Meanwhile, this paper presents the concept of the disk potential bandwidth. Using this concept, we could copy and synchronize the data efficiently without degrading the disk's response time significantly. In this paper, we introduce the disk scheduling, the disk potential bandwidth and heat-release mechanism. The experiment results of ABL are also provided. The experiments prove that the ABL mechanism can greatly shorten the access delay of the disk files and improve the performance of the file system.