Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include receiving a storage command from a host computer to retrieve first data from a specific physical region of a storage device, and responsively retrieving second data from one or more additional physical regions of the storage device based on a logical mapping managed by the host computer. The second data is conveyed to a cache. In some embodiments, the logical mapping is received from the host computer prior to receiving the storage command. In alternative embodiments, the logical mapping is retrieved from the storage device prior to receiving the storage command.

Abstract: A system for balancing component load. In response to receiving a request, data is updated to reflect a current number of pending requests. In response to analyzing the updated data, it is determined whether throttling is necessary. In response to determining that throttling is not necessary, a corresponding request to the received request is created and a flag is set in the corresponding request. Then, the corresponding request is sent to one of a plurality of lower level components of an input/output stack of an operating system for processing based on the analyzed data to balance component load in the input/output stack of the operating system.

Abstract: A system for balancing component load. In response to receiving a request, data is updated to reflect a current number of pending requests. In response to analyzing the updated data, it is determined whether throttling is necessary. In response to determining that throttling is not necessary, a corresponding request to the received request is created and a flag is set in the corresponding request. Then, the corresponding request is sent to one of a plurality of lower level components of an input/output stack of an operating system for processing based on the analyzed data to balance component load in the input/output stack of the operating system.