Abstract: A method and a computer program product executed by a processor may include or perform various operations. The operations include periodically reading a wear level for each of a plurality of storage devices operating in a multi-tiered storage system which includes a first storage tier and a second storage tier that is a lower tier than the first storage tier. At least one storage device operates in the first storage tier and at least one storage device operates in the second storage tier. The operations further include identifying a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices that is operating in the first storage tier and has a wear level that is higher than an average wear level for the plurality of storage devices. The operations additionally include causing the first storage device to switch from operating in the first storage tier to operating in the second storage tier.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product executed by a processor may include or perform various operations. The operations include periodically reading a wear level for each of a plurality of storage devices operating in a multi-tiered storage system which includes a first storage tier and a second storage tier that is a lower tier than the first storage tier. At least one storage device operates in the first storage tier and at least one storage device operates in the second storage tier. The operations further include identifying a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices that is operating in the first storage tier and has a wear level that is higher than an average wear level for the plurality of storage devices. The operations additionally include causing the first storage device to switch from operating in the first storage tier to operating in the second storage tier.

Abstract: At initiation of boot of a computing device, a processor executes a firmware interface of the computing device, like a basic input/output system (BIOS) or a unified extended firmware interface (UEFI). The processor executes the firmware interface to detect whether a dynamic hardware configuration (DHC) function has been enabled. In response to detecting that the DHC function has been enabled, the processor executes the firmware interface to configure hardware components of the computing device according to a DHC, such as to selectively disable the hardware components. After configuring the hardware components according to the DHC, the processor proceeds to boot the computing device.

Abstract: At initiation of boot of a computing device, a processor executes a firmware interface of the computing device, like a basic input/output system (BIOS) or a unified extended firmware interface (UEFI). The processor executes the firmware interface to detect whether a dynamic hardware configuration (DHC) function has been enabled. In response to detecting that the DHC function has been enabled, the processor executes the firmware interface to configure hardware components of the computing device according to a DHC, such as to selectively disable the hardware components. After configuring the hardware components according to the DHC, the processor proceeds to boot the computing device.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for performing an expansion of a disk array. Upon the failure of a disk in the disk array, the failed disk may be rebuilt stripe by stripe in the spare units distributed among other disks in the disk array. Upon repairing or replacing the failed disk with a spare disk, the repaired or spare disk may be rebuilt stripe by stripe using the data from the spare units. Upon receiving a write request to a stripe unit that has been rebuilt in the repaired or spare disk during expansion, the data of the request may be written in the stripe unit requested. Further, the data written may be mirrored, i.e., copied and stored, in the spare unit corresponding to the stripe unit requested. By mirroring the data to the corresponding spare unit, tracking each stripe that was updated during expansion may be eliminated.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for performing an expansion of a disk array. Upon the failure of a disk in the disk array, the failed disk may be rebuilt stripe by stripe in the spare units distributed among other disks in the disk array. Upon repairing or replacing the failed disk with a spare disk, the repaired or spare disk may be rebuilt stripe by stripe using the data from the spare units. Upon receiving a write request to a stripe unit that has been rebuilt in the repaired or spare disk during expansion, the data of the request may be written in the stripe unit requested. Further, the data written may be mirrored, i.e., copied and stored, in the spare unit corresponding to the stripe unit requested. By mirroring the data to the corresponding spare unit, tracking each stripe that was updated during expansion may be eliminated.