Using Storage Class Memory for Archives with DAWN, a Durable Array of Wimpy Nodes

The long life and low usage of archival data make cost considerations paramount. Today, most archival storage architectures depend on magnetic or optical media such as tape and disk because they have a low initial cost per byte. The high initial cost of storage class memories (SCMs) has been seen as prohibitive for archival use. Nevertheless, SCMs have many advantages for archival use, including physical robustness and low power usage. In this work, we argue that a suitable architecture can exploit these advantages to make SCM competitive with magnetic media for archival use. Inspired by the FAWN and Pergamum systems, we outline the design of DAWN, a Durable Array of Wimpy Nodes. DAWN will make use of low-power system-on-chip technology paired with SCM to provide a simple, reliable, self-managing archival storage system with a low total cost of operation.