Disconnected operation is a mode of operation that enables a client to continue accessing critical data during temporary failures of a shared data repository. An important, though not exclusive, application of disconnected operation is in supporting portable computers. In this paper, we show that disconnected operation is feasible, efficient and usable by describing its design and implementation in the Coda File System. The central idea behind our work is that caching of data, now widely used for performance, can also be exploited to improve availability.

would like to enjoy the benefits of a shared data repository, Disconnected operation is a mode of operation that enables but be able to continue critical work when that repository is a client to continue accessing critical data during temporary inaccessible. We call the latter mode of operation failures of a shared data repository. An important, though not exclusive, application of disconnected operation is in disconnected operation, because it represents a temporary supporting portable computers. In this paper, we show that deviation from normal operation as a client of a shared disconnected operation is feasible, efficient and usable by repository. describing its design and implementation in the Coda File System. The central idea behind our work is that caching of In this paper we show that disconnected operation in a file data, now widely used for performance, can also be system is indeed feasible, efficient and usable. The central exploited to improve availability. idea behind our work is that caching of data, now widely used to improve performance, can also be exploited to enhance availability. We have implemented disconnected 1.