File Systems as Processes

We introduce file systems as processes (FSP), a storage architecture designed for modern ultra-fast storage devices. By building a direct-access file system as a standalone user-level process, FSP accelerates file system development velocity without compromising essential file system properties. FSP promises to deliver raw device-level performance via highly tuned inter-process communication mechanisms; FSP also ensures protection and metadata integrity by design. To study the potential advantages and disadvantages of the FSP approach, we develop DashFS, a prototype user-level file system.We discuss its architecture and show preliminary performance benefits.