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Robustness Analysis of Flash Memory Software using Fault Injection Tests  

Lee, Dong-Hee (서울시립대학교 컴퓨터과학부)
Publication Information
Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters / v.11, no.4, 2005 , pp. 305-311 More about this Journal
Abstract
Flash memory software running on cellular phones and PDAs need to be tested extensively to cope with abrupt power and media faults. For those tests, we designed and implemented a Flash memory emulator with fault injection features. The fault injection tester has provided a helpful framework for designing fault recovery schemes and also for analyzing fault damages to the FTL (Flash Translation Layer) and file system for a Flash memory based system. In this paper, we discuss Plash memory fault types and fault injection features implemented on this Flash memory emulator. We then discuss in detail a design flaw revealed during fault injection tests. Specifically, it was revealed that a scheme that was believed to improve reliability instead, turned out to be harmful. In addition, we discuss post-fault behaviors of the FTL and the file system.
Keywords
Flash Memory; FTL (Flash Translation Layer); File System; Fault Injection;
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