In a distributed storage system, where do the disks typically come from?

In a distributed storage system, the disks typically originate from x86 architecture servers. This is due to several reasons inherent in the structure and functionality of such systems.

x86 architecture has become the industry standard for server hardware due to its compatibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This architecture is extensively used in data centers that implement distributed storage because it allows for horizontal scaling—adding more servers to meet increasing storage demands. The servers can be configured with multiple disks to enhance storage capacity and performance.

Furthermore, many distributed storage solutions, such as Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) or cloud storage services, are designed to run on x86 compatible hardware to take advantage of the processing power, available RAM, and efficient I/O operations that this architecture supports. This makes it more suitable for managing the high-volume and high-velocity data typical in distributed storage scenarios.

In contrast, choices such as personal PCs and smartphones are generally not utilized in this context because they lack the necessary performance and reliability attributes required for enterprise-level distributed storage systems. Specialized storage devices might be used in certain scenarios; however, they are often integrated into a broader system that includes standard servers running x86 architecture due to their flexibility in handling a variety of storage tasks.