University of Houston

This thesis investigates the need, discusses possibilities and presents a novel, highly cost effective, unified, long term storage solution for data. Some of the common processes followed in large scale data storage systems are analysed for overlooked, inordinate shortcomings and a profitably feasible solution is conceived for them. The gap between general needs of "efficient" long term storage and common current functionalities are analysed and an attempt to bridge this gap is made through the use of hybrid, hierarchical data storage media, performance enhancing middleware and monolithic namespace filesystem components in a new storage architecture, Tape Cloud.

Some of the investigation carried out involves interpreting the effects of using heterogeneous storage media in terms of performance, average response time of data transactions and power consumption. The results also presents the advantages of the new storage system by exhibiting the difference in operating costs, personnel costs and total cost of ownership from varied perspectives in a business model.