Priority management of a disk array

摘要

In a first form, a method for managing requests in a disk array having a number of disks includes associating priorities with respective requests. A new request is processed, which includes determining a maximum priority for at least certain ones of requests received and comparing the priority of the new request to the maximum priority. Responsive to the comparison, a selection is made between i) categorizing the new request as a foreground disk operation and ii) categorizing the new request as a background disk operation. A selection is also made between i) working the new request on at least one of the disks and ii) placing the new request in a queue.