74 Understanding the IBM TotalStorage Open Software Family
3.2.1 Compass architecture
The IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller is based on the COMmodity PArts
Storage System (Compass) architecture developed at the IBM Almaden
Research Center.
The overall goal of the Compass architecture is to create storage subsystem
software applications that require minimal porting effort to leverage a new
hardware platform. To meet this goal:
Compass, although currently deployed on the Intel hardware platform, can be
ported to other hardware platforms.
Compass, although currently deployed on a Linux kernel, can be ported to
other Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)-compliant operating
systems.
Compass uses commodity adapters and parts where