Abstract: A system for policy-driven RAID rebuild includes an interface to a group of devices each having stripe units. At least one of the devices is a spare device available to be used in the event of a failure of a device in the group of devices. The system further includes a processor coupled to the interface and configured to determine, based at least in part on an ordering criteria, an order in which to reconstruct stripe units to rebuild a failed device in the group of devices. The processor is further configured to rebuild the failed device including by reconstructing stripe units in the determined order using the spare device to overwrite stripe units as needed.

Abstract: Dynamic block optimization for space and performance is disclosed, including: determining that a data pattern associated with a data block included in a write request matches a promoted data pattern; and performing the write request by associating the data block with a previously stored copy of the data block without updating an associated reference count. Dynamic block optimization for space and performance further includes determining that a data pattern associated with a data block included in a write request matches a predetermined data pattern; and performing the write request by storing a static representation associated with the data block and not storing the data block, wherein the static representation is usable to generate the data block.