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onefang's vision
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[The following concerns matrix-DFS, a sub project of matrix-RAD.]
(matrix-DFS is not just onefang's vision, this document is onefang's idea of what matrix-DFS is. The other main
participants have their own areas of this site, and will put in their own visions.)
matrix-DFS is basically a new form of FTP, more intelligent, twice as fast, and much more.
matrix-DFS is an intelligent, virtual, distributed file server with compartmentalization. What the hell does that
mean? The key is the word "distributed", it's just like an ordinary FTP server, only the files are
intelligently distributed across several servers. When you download a file, the system decides which
two file servers closest to you have the file, and gets both to send it to you. They don't both send
you the same parts, which is why it is twice as fast. The entire bunch of servers is treated as one
server, which is why it is virtual. The total file space can be separated into separate areas, and the
different areas can have different security arrangements, that takes care of compartmentalization. Which
files reside on which actual server is controlled by the system in an effort to spread the load, taking into
consideration popular files, bandwidth usage, network problems, and other such things, that's why it is
intelligent. It will even swap to a different server if one (or both) of the servers currently sending you
a file goes down.
With respect to BPA, it is designed to work around several problems. The first one is the router block, the
distributed nature means that there is bound to be some servers not on your router, and at least two will have the
file you are after, this also caters for when a particular server is down. The next is dynamic IP and slow to
update DNS servers, matrix-DFS will search for servers if it can't find them where they are supposed to be, once
it finds one, it can request an update of the server IP's. The next solution is an extension of the
FTP mirror project, people can tell their matrix-DFS client that they are donating some MB's
for this month to the project, and it will automatically co-ordinate the usage of these MB's, download the files, and
upload them to a matrix-DFS server.
NOTE : Due to changes in how BPA works, router blocks and FTP mirrors no longer exist.
Since all this intelligence requires a lot of network monitoring, and since my latest login client includes network
monitoring, it was an easy decision to make my login client the basis for matrix-DFS. Burt Alexander's DDNS client
will soon be making it's way into my login client, and it can take care of the dynamic IP issues. The next step for
me is to add more network monitoring to the client.
David Seikel's Active Resume
This is onefang's resume written as a matrix-DFS module. This is why he qualifies as the code nazi.
This file was last modified on Friday, 19-Nov-2004 16:55:45 EST