Analytical models for mixed workload multimedia storage servers

Efficient resource management is essential in providing scalability in larg e multimedia information systems serving a variety of applications. In orde r to explore design tradeoffs in such systems, what is needed are accurate analytical models of mixed workload servers with tractable solutions. Motiv ated by the need for mixed workload storage servers as well as the need for performance studies of such systems, we first present a family of scheduli ng algorithm for mixed workload storage servers. We then develop a set of c orresponding analytical non-Markovian models. We show how our analytical so lution methodology applies to this entire family of models and how it can b e used to obtain performance measures of interest for different classes of workloads. Lastly, we illustrate through numerical examples how such models can be used to study performance tradeoffs and facilitate the making of de sign choices in mixed workload storage servers. (C) 1999 Published by Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.