Buffer Caching Algorithms for Storage Class RAMs

Due to recent advances in semiconductor technologies, Storage Class RAMs (SCRAMs) such as FRAM and PRAM are emerging rapidly. Since SCRAMs are nonvolatile and byte-accessible, there are attempts to use these SCRAMs as part of nonvolatile buffer caches. A nonvolatile buffer cache provides improved consistency of file systems by absorbing write I/Os as well as improved performance. In this paper, the authors discuss the optimality of cache replacement algorithms in nonvolatile buffer caches and present a new algorithm called NBM (Nonvolatile-RAM-aware Buffer cache Management).