The edge node file system: A distributed file system for high performance computing

The concept of using Internet edge nodes for High Performance Computing (HPC) applications has gained acceptance in recent times. Many of these HPC applications also have large I/O requirements. Consequently, an edge node file system that efficiently manages the large number of files involved can assist in improving application performance significantly. In this paper, we discuss the design of a Distributed File System (DFS) specialized for HPC applications that exploits the storage, computation and communication capabilities of Internet edge nodes and empowers users with the autonomy to flex file management strategies to suit their needs.