PDL Talk Series

August 17, 2023

TIME: 12:00 noon - to approximately 1:00 pm EDT
PLACE: Virtual - a zoom link will be emailed closer to the seminar

SPEAKER: Marcos K. Aguilera
Principal Researcher, VMware

Memory Disaggregation: Why it will happen now and bring a surprise impact
Disaggregation refers to moving hardware resources outside the box. Looking at history, we learn that disaggregation succeeds based two key factors: burning issue and technical feasibility. We also learn that, once successful, disaggregation brings an impact that is much broader than originally envisioned. We look at memory disaggregation from this perspective. We make the case that memory disaggregation will happen soon, as we overcome its three main technical challenges: fault tolerance, scalability, cost. We then present some of its potential surprise impact based on our research: fluid memory, instantaneous VM migration, and cheap Byzantine Fault Tolerance. The wildly different nature of these applications suggest that memory disaggregation will be a research topic of wide interest in the years to come.

BIO: Marcos K. Aguilera is a principal researcher at VMware. He previously worked in research at MSR Silicon Valley, HP Labs, and Compaq SRC. His technical interests span all aspects of distributed systems, including both theory and practice. He has served as program chair for OSDI, SoCC, FAST, DISC, OPODIS, and ICDCN.

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