Using MEMS-Based Storage in Computer Systems - Device Modeling and Management

MEMS-based storage is an emerging non-volatile secondary storage technology. It promises high performance, high storage density, and low power consumption. With fundamentally different architectural designs from magnetic disk, MEMS-based storage exhibits unique two-dimensional positioning behaviors and efficient power state transitions. The author's model these low-level, device-specific properties of MEMS-based storage and present request scheduling algorithms and power management strategies that exploit the full potential of these devices. Their simulations show that MEMS-specific device management policies can significantly improve system performance and reduce power consumption.