Data Synchronization: A Complete Theoretical Solution for Filesystems

0570143 - ÚTIA 2023 RIV CH eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Csirmaz, E. P. - Csirmaz, Laszlo
Data Synchronization: A Complete Theoretical Solution for Filesystems.
Future Internet. Roč. 14, č. 11 (2022), č. článku 344. E-ISSN 1999-5903
Grant CEP: GA ČR(CZ) GA19-04579S
Institucionální podpora: RVO:67985556
Klíčová slova: data synchronization * conflict resolution * filesystem theory
Obor OECD: Pure mathematics
Impakt faktor: 3.4, rok: 2022
Způsob publikování: Omezený přístup
http://library.utia.cas.cz/separaty/2023/MTR/csirmaz-0570143.pdf https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/14/11/344

Data reconciliation in general, and filesystem synchronization in particular, lacks rigorous theoretical foundation. This paper presents, for the first time, a complete analysis of synchronization for two replicas of a theoretical filesystem. Synchronization has two main stages: identifying the conflicts, and resolving them. All existing (both theoretical and practical) synchronizers are operation-based: they define, using some rationale or heuristics, how conflicts are to be resolved without considering the effect of the resolution on subsequent conflicts. Instead, our approach is declaration-based: we define what constitutes the resolution of all conflicts, and for each possible scenario we prove the existence of sequences of operations/commands which convert the replicas into a common synchronized state. These sequences consist of operations rolling back some local changes, followed by operations performed on the other replica. The set of rolled-back operations provides the user with clear and intuitive information on the proposed changes, so she can easily decide whether to accept them or ask for other alternatives. All possible synchronized states are described by specifying a set of conflicts, a partial order on the conflicts describing the order in which they need to be resolved, as well as the effect of each decision on subsequent conflicts. Using this classification, the outcomes of different conflict resolution policies can be investigated easily.
Trvalý link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0341501