Abstract: Zone hints for use with a zoned namespace (ZNS) storage device. Zone hints include one or more of a first hint indicating that a zone is part of a group of a plurality of zones, a second hint indicating that the zone is to be fast-filled, or a third hint indicating that the zone is associated with a background operation. The first hint is structured to instruct the ZNS storage device to allocate to the zone a first storage resources that are physically adjacent to second storage resources reserved for others of the plurality of zones. The second hint is structured to instruct the ZNS storage device to bypass a staging area when writing to the zone. The third hint is structured to instruct the ZNS storage device to deprioritizing at least one operation writing to the zone, or to bypass the staging area when writing to the zone.

Abstract: An improved interface for managing disparate read, write, and erase sizes and operations in data storage devices is provided. By improving an interface between a storage system driver layer and associated storage devices, performance of data storage is improved, including improving data storage speed and storage media endurance. Storage media management operations are made more efficient and consistent by providing improved types and sequences of commands sent from the driver layer to the device control layer such that data write operations are performed in a sequential manner as write commands are directed to portions of data as opposed to buffering individual portions of data followed by a large wholescale write/erase process for the buffered data.

Abstract: An improved interface for managing disparate read, write, and erase sizes and operations in data storage devices is provided. By improving an interface between a storage system driver layer and associated storage devices, performance of data storage is improved, including improving data storage speed and storage media endurance. Storage media management operations are made more efficient and consistent by providing improved types and sequences of commands sent from the driver layer to the device control layer such that data write operations are performed in a sequential manner as write commands are directed to portions of data as opposed to buffering individual portions of data followed by a large wholescale write/erase process for the buffered data.