Data movement intimation using input/output (I/O) queue management

A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a computer to cause the computer to:

• cause, by the computer, a plurality of nonvolatile memory express (NVMe) I/O queues to be created between an initiator and a storage target device,
• wherein a first subset of the created I/O queues are priority adjustment I/O queues that are reserved for I/O requests for which adjustments of current priorities of extents of data associated with the I/O requests are to be performed,
• wherein the adjustments are based on anticipated demand(s) and/or anticipated lack of demand(s), in a predetermined future period of time, for the extents of data associated with the I/O requests,
• wherein a second subset of the created I/O queues are used for I/O requests for regular I/O operations, the I/O queues in the second subset being different than the I/O queues in the first subset;
• determine, by the computer, identifying information of an I/O request sent from the initiator to the storage target device,
• wherein the I/O request is sent from the initiator to the storage target device using an in-band protocol command in which direct communication occurs between the initiator and the storage target device;
• determine, by the computer, using the identifying information, whether the I/O request was sent from the initiator to the storage target device using only one of the created priority adjustment I/O queues and none of the other created I/O queues;
• and
• in response to a determination that the I/O request was sent from the initiator to the storage target device using only a first of the created priority adjustment I/O queues and none of the other created I/O queues, having one of the adjustments associated therewith, instruct, by the computer, a tiering manager of the storage target device to perform the adjustment on the current priority of the extent of data associated with the I/O request.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:
• cause a plurality of nonvolatile memory express (NVMe) I/O queues to be created between an initiator and a storage target device,
• wherein a first subset of the created I/O queues are priority adjustment I/O queues that are reserved for I/O requests for which adjustments of current priorities of extents of data associated with the I/O requests are to be performed,
• wherein the adjustments are based on anticipated demand(s) and/or anticipated lack of demand(s), in a predetermined future period of time, for the extents of data associated with the I/O requests,
• wherein a second subset of the created I/O queues are used for sending regular operations from the initiator to the storage target device;
• cause a logical map to be created,
• wherein the logical map identifies the created priority adjustment I/O queues and a plurality of characteristics,
• wherein the characteristics indicate how to adjust the current priorities of extents of data associated with the I/O requests,
• determine identifying information of an I/O request sent from the initiator to the storage target device,
• wherein the I/O request is sent from the initiator to the storage target device using an in-band protocol command in which direct communication occurs between the initiator and the storage target device;
• determine, using the identifying information, whether the I/O request was sent from the initiator to the storage target device using one of the created priority adjustment I/O queues,
• wherein determining, using the identifying information, whether the I/O request was sent from the initiator to the storage target device using one of the created priority adjustment I/O queues includes:
• accessing the logical map, and
• determining whether the identifying information of the I/O request maps to one of the created priority adjustment I/O queues,
• wherein a determination is made that the I/O request was sent from the initiator to the storage target device using a first of the created priority adjustment I/O queues in response to a determination that the identifying information of the I/O request maps to the first of the created priority adjustment I/O queues;
• and
• in response to a determination that the I/O request was sent from the initiator to the storage target device using the first of the created priority adjustment I/O queues having one of the adjustments associated therewith, instruct a tiering manager of the storage target device to perform the associated adjustment on the current priority of the extent of data associated with the I/O request.