US Patent 10146449 Purchase planning for data storage processing systems

A technique of automatically predicting data storage configuration events, such as purchase decisions, based upon individual data storage drive properties, client storage usage and behavior trends is described. The behavior trends may include customer actions, such as deleting snap shots or otherwise deleting data, typical ordering times and delays, and expected installation and acceptance testing times. The technique collects operational data and calculates statistical trends. The technique automatically notifies a data storage system manager of the calculated data when the operational data indicates that the data storage system will need reconfiguration and recommends data storage drive properties to acquire.