Recent Advances in Computer Architecture: The Opportunities and Challenges for Provenance

In recent years several hardware and systems fields have made advances in technology that open new opportunities and challenges for provenance systems. In this paper we look at such technologies and discuss the implications they have for provenance. First, we discuss processor and memory controller technologies that enable fine-grained lineage capture, resulting in more precise and accurate provenance. Then, we look at programmable storage, 3D memory and co-processor technologies discussing how lineage capture in these heterogeneous environments results in richer and more complete provenance. We finally look at technological advances in the field of networking, namely NFV and SDN, discussing how these technologies enable easier provenance capture in the network.