Forward Error Correcting codes for cloud storage architectures – FEC4CLOUD

Within a cloud distributed storage infrastructure, data availability is critical where the repartition mode plays an important role. In this project, we promote the forward error correcting codes usage (most precisely erasure coding usage) targeting to produce redundant fragments to prevent data fragments losses. This approach is distinct from data replication approach high storage space consumer (and so energy consumer) to reach the same availability rate. For cloud storage, this erasure codes will be adapted to distributed processing (like MapReduce as an example).

In this context, which erasure codes to retain ? two theoretical approaches are possible: one algebraical approach and one geometrical approach. If the algebraical approach has made his proof since coding theory is born, geometrical approach is relatively new because comes from geometrical transforms (discrete and exact Radon transforms: Mojette or FRT) that exists since 15 years. Today, this approach is mature providing suitable property of codes (optimal in the MDS definition, systematic and non systematic form, elastic stretch factor ...) with efficient implementations (linear complexity) in the spatial and frequency domain. Since 2 years, this solution is industrialized by the spin-off from the University of Nantes called Fizians and today, commercialized across the Rozo product wich is a Mojette based redundant file distributed system for cloud storage architecture. In the laboratories, the technology has evolved in two years. The FEC4CLOUD targets this technology transfer by considering also actual evolution of reference technologies like Reed-Solomon codes. This transfer will be materialized by algorithms and reference software both illustrated by a demonstrator.

The consortium is constituted in 3 partners: the Institut de Recherche en Communications et Cybernétique de Nantes (IRCCyN, UMR 6597), the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE at Toulouse) and the technology transfer office of the University of Nantes. The technology transfer will be done with the acceptance of the technology transfer office of the PRES Toulouse University. Furthermore, the SME Fizians will reenforce the consortium as an external provider to construct the demonstrator and the proof of concept.