Method and system for deploying mixed storage products on a uniform storage infrastructure

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
• receiving a first request to write data to a hard disk drive (HDD) which comprises a plurality of tracks which can be configured as a conventional magnetic recording (CMR) media or as a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) media, wherein an SMR-configured track stores a greater amount of data than a CMR-configured track;
• writing the data to a first CMR-configured track;
• classifying data stored in CMR-configured tracks as hot or cold, wherein a hot classification indicates an access frequency greater than a first predetermined threshold, and wherein a cold classification indicates an access frequency less than a second predetermined threshold;
• copying cold data from the CMR-configured tracks to a zone associated with SMR-configured tracks;
• and
• making available portions of the CMR-configured tracks previously occupied by the cold data.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a non-volatile memory of a hard disk drive,
• wherein the hard disk drive comprises a plurality of tracks which can be configured as a conventional magnetic recording (CMR) media or as a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) media, wherein an SMR-configured track stores a greater amount of data than a CMR-configured track;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a first request to write data to the hard disk drive;
• write the data to a first CMR-configured track;
• classify data stored in CMR-configured tracks as hot or cold, wherein a hot classification indicates an access frequency greater than a first predetermined threshold, and wherein a cold classification indicates an access frequency less than a second predetermined threshold;
• copy cold data from the CMR-configured tracks to a zone associated with SMR-configured tracks;
• and
• make available portions of the CMR-configured tracks previously occupied by the cold data.