Data structure distribution and multi-threading of Linux file system for multiprocessors

Abstract

The standard Linux design assumes a uniprocessor architecture. Allowing several processors to execute simultaneously in the kernel mode on behalf of different processes can cause consistency problems unless appropriate exclusion mechanisms are used. In addition, if the file system data structures are not distributed, performance can be affected. We discuss a multiprocessor file system design for Linux ext2fs with various data structures, such as super block, inodes, buffer cache, directory cache (name cache), distributed with respect to different processors with appropriate exclusion mechanisms.