Theory vs. Practice in Modeling Edge Storage Systems

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the capacity-region model for edge storage systems, revealing five key gaps between the model and real-world performance, highlighting challenges in accurately modeling edge storage services.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the capacity-region model, identifying five fundamental gaps that hinder its applicability to real edge storage systems.

Findings

Identified five inherent gaps between the model and real systems

Revealed limitations of existing models in capturing edge storage performance

Highlighted challenges in accurately modeling edge storage capacity

Abstract

Edge systems promise to bring data and computing closer to the users of time-critical applications. Specifically, edge storage systems are emerging as a new system paradigm, where users can retrieve data from small-scale servers inter-operating at the network's edge. The analysis, design, and optimization of such systems require a tractable model that will reflect their costs and bottlenecks. Alas, most existing mathematical models for edge systems focus on stateless tasks, network performance, or isolated nodes and are inapplicable for evaluating edge-based storage performance. We analyze the capacity-region model - the most promising model proposed so far for edge storage systems. The model addresses the system's ability to serve a set of user demands. Our analysis reveals five inherent gaps between this model and reality, demonstrating the significant remaining challenges in modeling storage service at the edge.