Data storage device and method for configuring a memory to write a requested amount of data over the memory's lifetime

A data storage device comprising:

• a memory comprising a plurality of blocks, wherein each block is configurable as a single-level cell (SLC) block or as a multi-level cell (MLC) block, wherein a total amount of data that can be written in the memory during a lifetime of the memory is based on a capacity of each of the plurality of blocks and a number of program/erase cycles that each of the plurality of blocks can endure, and wherein an MLC block comprises a higher capacity but can endure fewer program/erase cycles as compared to an SLC block;
• and
• one or more processors, individually or in combination, configured to:
• receive a request from a host, wherein the request indicates a requested total amount of data to be written in the memory during the lifetime of the memory, wherein the requested total amount of data to be written in the memory during the lifetime of the memory is different from the number of program/erase cycles that each of the plurality of blocks can endure;
• determine a first number of blocks of the plurality of blocks to configure as SLC blocks and a second number of blocks of the plurality of blocks to configure as MLC blocks in order to attempt to satisfy the request, wherein increasing the first number of blocks increases the total amount of data that can be written in the memory during the lifetime of the memory but decreases a total capacity of the memory;
• configure the first number of blocks as SLC blocks;
• and
• configure the second number of blocks as MLC blocks.