Photia: Cross-Layer Cache Optimization for Function Startup in Serverless Computing

Serverless computing enhances application development and deployment through elastic resource provisioning. However, the cold start problem, caused by the stateless nature of serverless functions, remains a significant challenge, particularly in high-traffic scenarios. Existing solutions focus on optimizing function instance caches and reducing sandbox initialization times, yet resource inefficiencies in multi-level cache architectures persist. This paper proposes Photia, a cross-layer collaborative cache management system that integrates decision-making between function instance and sandbox caches. Experimental results demonstrate that Photia reduces function startup latency by up to 2x and improves sandbox cache resource utilization by 20%.