Correlation criteria for logical volumes

A method for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time;
• generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time;
• determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, wherein said determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated is based, at least in part, on a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph;
• and
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A method for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time;
• generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time;
• determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, wherein said determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated is based, at least in part, on a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A method for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time;
• generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time;
• determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining based at least in part on at least two criteria selected from the criteria set consisting of:
• an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph,
• a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph,
• a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein said sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value, and
• a correlation coefficient criteria, said correlation coefficient criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• at least one storage disk;
• at least one adapter, said adapter operable to:
• generate a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk,
• generate a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk,
• determine whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determination responsive, at least in part, to an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph,
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generate an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• at least one storage disk;
• at least one adapter, said adapter operable to:
• generate a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk,
• generate a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes data stored on said at least one storage disk,
• determine whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determination responsive, at least in part, to a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph,
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generate an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• at least one storage disk;
• at least one adapter, said adapter operable to:
• generate a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk,
• generate a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk,
• determine whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determination responsive, at least in part, to a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value, and
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generate an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• at least one storage disk;
• at least one adapter, said adapter operable to:
• generate a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time,
• generate a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time,
• determine whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining based at least in part on at least two criteria selected from the criteria set consisting of:
• an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph,
• a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph,
• a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein said sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value, and
• a correlation coefficient criteria, said correlation coefficient criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generate an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• means for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• means for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• means for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph;
• and
• means for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• means for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• means for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• means for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph;
• and
• means for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• means for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• means for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• means for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• means for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A system for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, comprising:

• means for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time;
• means for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time;
• means for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining based at least in part on at least two criteria selected from the criteria set consisting of:
• an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph,
• a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph,
• a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein said sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value, and
• a correlation coefficient criteria, said correlation coefficient criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer program product including a computer readable medium, said computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, said program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer program product including a computer readable medium, said computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, said program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer program product including a computer readable medium, said computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, said program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer program product including a computer readable medium, said computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, said program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining based at least in part on at least two criteria selected from the criteria set consisting of:
• an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph,
• a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph,
• a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein said sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value, and
• a correlation coefficient criteria, said correlation coefficient criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal including a computer program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said computer program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal including a computer program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said computer program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal including a computer program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said computer program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time, wherein said first logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time, wherein said second logical volume describes at least one storage area on said at least one storage disk;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining responsive, at least in part, to a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.

A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal including a computer program for determining whether activity graphs for logical volumes of data storage are correlated, said computer program comprising:

• program code for generating a first activity graph, said first activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a first logical volume over a period of time;
• program code for generating a second activity graph, said second activity graph including a series of activity level sample values associated with a second logical volume over said period of time;
• program code for determining whether said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated, said determining based at least in part on at least two criteria selected from the criteria set consisting of:
• an area ratio criteria, said area ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that an area ratio is at least as great as a predetermined value, wherein said area ratio comprises a ratio between a minimum area and a maximum area, wherein said minimum area is an area below both said first activity graph and said second activity graph, and wherein said maximum area is an area below at least one of the set consisting of said first activity graph and said second activity graph,
• a peak ratio criteria, said peak ratio criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a peak ratio is at least as large as a second predetermined value, wherein said peak ratio comprises a ratio between a number of coincidental peaks and the difference between a total number of peaks in both said activity graphs and said number of coincidental peaks, wherein said number of coincidental peaks is the number of peaks in said first activity graph which occur at the same time as respective peaks in said second activity graph,
• a sharp peak criteria, said sharp peak criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph have at least one pair of coincidental peaks, wherein each one of said coincidental peaks is a sharp peak, and wherein each said sharp peak includes a highest activity level of a respective one of said first and second activity graphs, wherein each said sharp peak is at least as great as a product of a next highest activity level in said respective one of said activity graphs and a predetermined multiplier, and wherein said sharp peak criteria further only indicates that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value, and
• a correlation coefficient criteria, said correlation coefficient criteria indicating that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are correlated in the event that a correlation coefficient for said first activity graph and said second activity graph is greater than a predetermined correlation coefficient value;
• and
• program code for, in the event that said first activity graph and said second activity graph are determined to be correlated, generating an output indicative of said correlation.