Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the computing storage environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to utilize a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage, while sparsely hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to utilize the lower-speed cache.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a data storage system has a plurality of non-volatile storage devices, a higher level controller and one or more lower level controllers. In response to one or more inputs, the higher level controller of the data storage system issues an initialization command specifying initialization of a storage extent. In response to the initialization command, one or more lower level controllers issue dataless initialization commands to the plurality of non-volatile storage devices. In response to the dataless initialization commands, multiple first non-volatile storage devices among the plurality of non-volatile storage devices each initialize a respective data portion of the storage extent and a second non-volatile storage device among the plurality of non-volatile storage devices initializes a data protection portion of the storage extent.

Abstract: For data processing in a distributed computing storage environment by a processor device, the distributed computing environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and managed tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments and clumped hot ones of the data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage; uniformly hot groups of data segments are determined using a first, largest granulated, heat map for a selected one of the group of the data segments; and a second heat map, which is smaller than the first and having the largest granularity of the first heat map, is used to determine the clumped hot groups.

Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the computing storage environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that if a selected group is cached in the lower-speed cache and is determined to become uniformly hot, migrating the selected group from the lower-speed cache to the SSD portion while refraining from processing data retained in the lower-speed cache until the selected group is fully migrated to the SSD portion.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device that provides a user mode device interface for enabling software reuse. The user mode device interface allows device interface requests to be sent and received, including commands and data structures, via socket communication. A device state machine on the client side is implemented in a set of shared functions that can be incorporated by all applications that want to communicate to a particular service provider. The service provider offers the software functions over a user mode device interface via socket communication. The device state machine on the service provider side is embedded in the socket server implementation. The interaction between the state machines on both client and server sides ensures a device interface request is properly handled.

Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the computing storage environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to utilize a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage, while sparsely hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to utilize the lower-speed cache.

Abstract: For data processing in a distributed computing storage environment by a processor device, the distributed computing environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and managed tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments and clumped hot ones of the data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage; uniformly hot groups of data segments are determined using a first, largest granulated, heat map for a selected one of the group of the data segments; and a second heat map, which is smaller than the first and having the largest granularity of the first heat map, is used to determine the clumped hot groups.

Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and managed tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that clumped uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage; uniformly hot groups of data segments are determined using a first, largest granulated, heat map for a selected one of the group of the data segments; a second heat map, which is smaller than the first and having the largest granularity of the first heat map, is used to determine the clumped hot groups; and sparsely hot groups are determined when neither the first heat map nor the second heat map are hotter than the first and second predetermined thresholds, respectively.

Abstract: A method for migrating volumes in a storage system includes identifying an extent of data (belonging to a volume) requiring migration from a source extent to a target extent. The method allocates a selected number of copiers to the extent of data to migrate the extent of data from the source extent to the target extent. Each copier is configured to copy a unit of data, which is a smaller division of the extent of data. The method monitors destages (i.e., writes) that occur to the source extent as the copiers migrate the extent of data from the source extent to the target extent. In the event the destages occur faster than the copiers can copy units to the target extent, the method allocates additional copiers to the extent of data to assist in migrating the extent of data. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the computing storage environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and managed tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage, clumped hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use the SSD portion while using the lower-speed cache for a remaining portion of the clumped hot ones, and sparsely hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use the lower-speed cache while using a lower one of the tiered levels of storage for a remaining portion of the sparsely hot ones.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for receiving an error inject script that describes one or more error inject scenarios that define under which conditions at least one error inject is to be executed and compiling the error inject script to output an error inject data structure. While executing code that includes the error inject, an indication that an event has been triggered is received, conditions defined in the one or more error inject scenarios are evaluated using the error inject data structure, and, for each of the conditions that evaluates to true, one or more actions defined in the error inject script for the condition are performed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing caching of extents of tracks in a first cache, second cache and storage device. A determination is made of an eligible track in a first cache eligible for demotion to a second cache, wherein the tracks are stored in extents configured in a storage device, wherein each extent is comprised of a plurality of tracks. A determination is made of an extent including the eligible track and whether second cache caching for the determined extent is enabled or disabled. The eligible track is demoted from the first cache to the second cache in response to determining that the second cache caching for the determined extent is enabled. Selection is made not to demote the eligible track in response to determining that the second cache caching for the determined extent is disabled.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing caching of extents of tracks in a first cache, second cache and storage device. A determination is made of an eligible track in a first cache eligible for demotion to a second cache, wherein the tracks are stored in extents configured in a storage device, wherein each extent is comprised of a plurality of tracks. A determination is made of an extent including the eligible track and whether second cache caching for the determined extent is enabled or disabled. The eligible track is demoted from the first cache to the second cache in response to determining that the second cache caching for the determined extent is enabled. Selection is made not to demote the eligible track in response to determining that the second cache caching for the determined extent is disabled.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing caching of extents of tracks in a first cache, second cache and storage device. A determination is made of an eligible track in a first cache eligible for demotion to a second cache, wherein the tracks are stored in extents configured in a storage device, wherein each extent is comprised of a plurality of tracks. A determination is made of an extent including the eligible track and whether second cache caching for the determined extent is enabled or disabled. The eligible track is demoted from the first cache to the second cache in response to determining that the second cache caching for the determined extent is enabled. Selection is made not to demote the eligible track in response to determining that the second cache caching for the determined extent is disabled.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for receiving an error inject script that describes one or more error inject scenarios that define under which conditions at least one error inject is to be executed and compiling the error inject script to output an error inject data structure. While executing code that includes the error inject, an indication that an event has been triggered is received, conditions defined in the one or more error inject scenarios are evaluated using the error inject data structure, and, for each of the conditions that evaluates to true, one or more actions defined in the error inject script for the condition are performed.

Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the computing storage environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and managed tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage, clumped hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use the SSD portion while using the lower-speed cache for a remaining portion of the clumped hot ones, and sparsely hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to use the lower-speed cache while using a lower one of the tiered levels of storage for a remaining portion of the sparsely hot ones.

Abstract: For data processing in a computing storage environment by a processor device, the computing storage environment incorporating at least high-speed and lower-speed caches, and tiered levels of storage, groups of data segments are migrated between the tiered levels of storage such that uniformly hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to utilize a Solid State Drive (SSD) portion of the tiered levels of storage, while sparsely hot ones of the groups of data segments are migrated to utilize the lower-speed cache.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for receiving an error inject script that describes one or more error inject scenarios that define under which conditions at least one error inject is to be executed and compiling the error inject script to output an error inject data structure. While executing code that includes the error inject, an indication that an event has been triggered is received, conditions defined in the one or more error inject scenarios are evaluated using the error inject data structure, and, for each of the conditions that evaluates to true, one or more actions defined in the error inject script for the condition are performed.

Abstract: A method for improving the performance of a RAID under rebuild is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes identifying a RAID requiring rebuild, such as by identifying a RAID having one or more failed storage-drive components. The method then automatically performs the following in response to identifying the RAID: the method identifies hot extents (i.e., extents most heavily accessed) in the RAID; the method migrates the hot extents from the identified failed RAID to a normal RAID not requiring rebuild, such as to an underused RAID; and the method rebuilds the failed RAID. The migration of the hot extents will ideally occur while the RAID is being rebuilt but may also be performed prior to the rebuild process. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for receiving an error inject script that describes one or more error inject scenarios that define under which conditions at least one error inject is to be executed and compiling the error inject script to output an error inject data structure. While executing code that includes the error inject, an indication that an event has been triggered is received, conditions defined in the one or more error inject scenarios are evaluated using the error inject data structure, and, for each of the conditions that evaluates to true, one or more actions defined in the error inject script for the condition are performed.