On the role of data compression in new products

Abstract

The role of data compression on storage subsystems and in operating systems is discussed. The predominant component in storage subsystem cost is the magnetic disk, and increasing disk's storage capacity by means of compression is very important. As proportions changed, efforts should concentrate on: data compression on controller's cache, without degrading performance; data compression scheme on even lower components; and providing reliability, in particular disaster recovery, by means of online, fast transferring of data between cooperating controllers. Compression by software can reduce cost, without degrading performance. Two examples of effort in this direction include code compression and virtual memory compression.