Abstract: Described are techniques for processing I/O (input/output) operations. A first observed value of a first performance metric denoting any of a current workload or performance for a first physical device is determined. A target time delay for the first physical device is identified based on the first observed value of the first performance metric. The target time delay specifies a minimum time delay between consecutive host I/Os directed to the first physical device. The target time delay is enforced with respect to consecutive host I/Os directed to the first physical device.

Abstract: Data units are prefetched into a cache memory by executing a first prefetch task to prefetch a first prefetch series of data units from off-cache. A first prefetch operation is executed to prefetch and store a first selected set of data units. Decisions are made about the first prefetch task, subsequent prefetch operations and prefetch tasks based on in-cache data units associated with the first prefetch task and on other data units that are read from off-cache but that are not associated with the first prefetch task. A determination is made whether an additional data unit that is read from an off-cache logical location is a first prefetch series member. If so, it is associated with the first prefetch task, and, for decision making, is treated as having been prefetched into cache in accordance with the first prefetch task.