Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, includes: receiving an indication that memory has entered a protected state. Additionally, I/O requests intended for target locations in the memory are received. A determination is made as to whether the target locations are permitted to perform I/O requests while the memory is in the protected state. In response to determining one or more of the target locations are not permitted to perform I/O requests while the memory is in the protected state, the respective one or more of the received I/O requests are denied. However, in response to determining one or more of the target locations are permitted to perform I/O requests while the memory is in the protected state, the respective one or more of the received I/O requests are performed at the one or more target locations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, includes: receiving an indication that memory has entered a protected state. An I/O request that is intended for a target location in the memory is also received. Moreover, the relative significance of the I/O request is evaluated, and in response to concluding the I/O request is sufficiently significant, the I/O request is performed at the target location. However, in response to concluding the I/O request is insufficiently significant, the I/O request is denied.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining a storage device type on which to store extents of data in a storage system. The storage system provides a first storage device type that has native data compression at a first compression ratio and a second storage device type that has native data compression at a second compression ratio. The second compression ratio is higher than the first compression ratio. A determination is made for an extent to store the extent on the first storage device type or the second storage device type based on access frequency to data in the extent and an Input/Output (I/O) priority level for the extent. The extent is stored on the determined first or second storage device type.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining to migrate data between compressed storage devices and non-compressed storage devices in a storage system. The storage system provides compressed storage devices having native data compression and a non-compressed storage devices not configured to have native compression. A determination is made of storage usage factors for the compressed storage devices and the non-compressed storage devices. A determination is made whether to move data between the compressed storage devices and the non-compressed storage devices based on the storage usage factors. Data is moved between the compressed storage devices and the non-compressed storage devices in response to determining to move the data between the compressed storage devices and the non-compressed storage devices.

Abstract: A method for improving destage performance to a RAID array is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method periodically scans a cache for first strides that are ready to be destaged to a RAID array. While scanning the cache, the method identifies second strides that are not currently ready to be destaged to the RAID array, but will likely be ready to be destaged during a subsequent scan of the cache. The method initiates preemptive staging of any missing data of the second strides from the RAID array into the cache in preparation for the subsequent scan. Upon occurrence of the subsequent scan, the method destages, from the cache, the second strides from the cache to the RAID array. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, is for converting an existing storage pool into an intended storage pool in place. The computer-implemented method includes: reordering volume extents in the existing storage pool such that physical rank extents of the volumes align with boundaries between rank extents of the intended storage pool. The ranks in the existing storage pool are also converted from first rank extent sizes to second rank extent sizes. Moreover, in response to converting the ranks in the existing storage pool, for each of the volumes: a temporary pause/lock is performed on a volume segment table (VST) entry which corresponds to the given volume, and the VST entry is populated with a new structure which corresponds to the respective second rank extent size.

Abstract: A storage controller is configured to perform a full stride destage, a strip destage, and an individual track destage. A machine learning module receives a plurality of inputs corresponding to a plurality of factors that affect performance of data transfer operations and preservation of drive life in the storage controller. In response to receiving the inputs, the machine learning module generates a first output, a second output, and a third output that indicate a preference measure for the full stride destage, the strip destage, and the individual track destage respectively.

Abstract: A first score corresponding to a full stride destage, a second score corresponding to a strip destage, and a third score corresponding to an individual track destage are computed, wherein the first score, the second score, and the third score are computed for a group of Input/Output (I/O) operations based on a first metric and a second metric, wherein the first metric is configured to affect a performance of data transfers, and wherein the second metric is configured to affect a drive life. A determination is made of a type of destage to perform based on the first score, the second score, and the third score.

Abstract: A method for improving destage performance to a RAID array is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method periodically scans a cache for first strides that are ready to be destaged to a RAID array. While scanning the cache, the method identifies second strides that are not currently ready to be destaged to the RAID array, but will likely be ready to be destaged during a subsequent scan of the cache. The method initiates preemptive staging of any missing data of the second strides from the RAID array into the cache in preparation for the subsequent scan. Upon occurrence of the subsequent scan, the method destages, from the cache, the second strides from the cache to the RAID array. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A storage controller is configured to perform a full stride destage, a strip destage, and an individual track destage. A machine learning module receives a plurality of inputs corresponding to a plurality of factors that affect performance of data transfer operations and preservation of drive life in the storage controller. In response to receiving the inputs, the machine learning module generates a first output, a second output, and a third output that indicate a preference measure for the full stride destage, the strip destage, and the individual track destage respectively.

Abstract: A first score corresponding to a full stride destage, a second score corresponding to a strip destage, and a third score corresponding to an individual track destage are computed, wherein the first score, the second score, and the third score are computed for a group of Input/Output (I/O) operations based on a first metric and a second metric, wherein the first metric is configured to affect a performance of data transfers, and wherein the second metric is configured to affect a drive life. A determination is made of a type of destage to perform based on the first score, the second score, and the third score.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, is for converting an existing storage pool into an intended storage pool in place. The computer-implemented method includes: identifying a request to convert the existing storage pool having a first extent size into the intended storage pool having a second extent size, where the first extent size is larger than the second extent size. For each volume in the existing storage pool: a temporary pause/lock is performed on a volume segment table (VST) entry which corresponds to the given volume, and a new structure is applied to the VST entry. The new structure divides existing physical extents associated with the VST entry into two or more smaller physical extents. Furthermore, for each of the ranks in the existing storage pool, the given rank is converted from the first extent size to the second extent size.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, is for converting an existing storage pool into an intended storage pool in place. The computer-implemented method includes: reordering volume extents in the existing storage pool such that physical rank extents of the volumes align with boundaries between rank extents of the intended storage pool. The ranks in the existing storage pool are also converted from first rank extent sizes to second rank extent sizes. Moreover, in response to converting the ranks in the existing storage pool, for each of the volumes: a temporary pause/lock is performed on a volume segment table (VST) entry which corresponds to the given volume, and the VST entry is populated with a new structure which corresponds to the respective second rank extent size.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, is for converting an existing storage pool into an intended storage pool in place. The computer-implemented method includes: identifying a request to convert the existing storage pool having a first extent size into the intended storage pool having a second extent size, where the first extent size is larger than the second extent size. For each volume in the existing storage pool: a temporary pause/lock is performed on a volume segment table (VST) entry which corresponds to the given volume, and a new structure is applied to the VST entry. The new structure divides existing physical extents associated with the VST entry into two or more smaller physical extents. Furthermore, for each of the ranks in the existing storage pool, the given rank is converted from the first extent size to the second extent size.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, includes: identifying a request to convert an existing storage pool having a smaller first rank extent size into an intended storage pool having a larger second rank extent size. Volume extents in the existing storage pool are reordered such that physical rank extents of the volumes align with boundaries between the rank extents of the intended storage pool. Each of the ranks in the existing storage pool are converted from the first to the second rank extent size. Thereafter, for each of the volumes: a temporary pause/lock is performed on a VST entry which corresponds to the given volume, and an existing structure associated with the VST entry which corresponds to the first rank extent size is removed. Furthermore, the VST entry is populated with a new structure which corresponds to the second rank extent size.

Abstract: For preventing data loss in storage systems a detection is made that a storage device in a plurality of storage devices is experiencing a malfunction. The type of malfunction is determined. A SMART rebuilding technique, a normal building technique, a data migration technique, or a user data backup technique is selected to preserve the data in the storage device based on the determined type of the malfunction. The selected technique is performed on the storage device.

Abstract: For preventing data loss in storage systems, a detection is made that a storage device in a plurality of storage devices is experiencing a malfunction. The type of malfunction is determined. A SMART rebuilding technique, a normal building technique, a data migration technique, or a user data backup technique is selected to preserve the data in the storage device based on the determined type of the malfunction. The selected technique is performed on the storage device.

Abstract: For preventing data loss in storage systems, a detection is made that a storage device in a plurality of storage devices is experiencing a malfunction. The type of malfunction is determined. A SMART rebuilding technique, a normal building technique, a data migration technique, or a user data backup technique is selected to preserve the data in the storage device based on the determined type of the malfunction. The selected technique is performed on the storage device.

Abstract: For preventing data loss in storage systems, a detection is made that a storage device in a plurality of storage devices is experiencing a malfunction. The type of malfunction is determined. A SMART rebuilding technique, a normal building technique, a data migration technique, or a user data backup technique is selected to preserve the data in the storage device based on the determined type of the malfunction. The selected technique is performed on the storage device.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for error checking addressable blocks in storage. Addressable blocks of data are stored in a storage in stripes, wherein each stripe includes a plurality of data blocks for one of the addressable blocks and at least one checksum block including checksum data derived from the data blocks for the addressable block. A write request is received to modify data in one of the addressable blocks. The write and updating the checksum are performed in the stripe having the modified addressable block. An indication is made to perform an error checking operation on the stripe for the modified addressable block in response to the write request, wherein the error checking operation reads the data blocks and the checksum in the stripe to determine if the checksum data is accurate. An error handling operation is initiated in response to determining that the checksum data is not accurate.