US Patent 8949483 Techniques using I/O classifications in connection with determining data movements

Techniques are described for determining data movements. A first plurality of performance goals for a plurality of storage pools and a second plurality of performance goals for a plurality of applications are received. A first I/O classification characterizing a workload of a first data portion is determined. The first I/O classification is one of a predetermined set of I/O classifications. A proposed data movement of the first data portion from a first to a second of the plurality of storage pools is determined in accordance with criteria including a match between the first I/O classification and one of the predetermined set of I/O classifications which is preferred for the second storage pool over one or more other I/O classifications of the predetermined set. The criteria also includes any of the first plurality of performance goals and the second plurality of performance goals.