Joining separate file systems

This paper takes a look at the so-called 'meta-system' approach to Distributed System construction; that is, constructing a distributed system by tieing together existing local operating systems. In particular it looks at some of the file system problems that may be encountered. These problems are simplified if one has the opportunity to rewrite the underlying local operating system (see [Oppen 81], for example], but typically, this is not the case. Since it is impractical to look at all existing local operating systems, I focus on a particular local operating system, Primos, with its overlying user interface, Software Tools, However, this is not to be taken as a comment on these systems; much of what I have to say is probably true of the majority of existing local operating systems.