Dynamic storage blocks tiering

A processor readable storage device having non-volatile processor readable code embodied on processor readable storage device, processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of dynamic storage block tiering comprising:

• at a database server capable of individually accessing particular data blocks, the data blocks being associated with database structures accessible by the database server, the server coupled to at least a first storage device and a second storage device, the storage devices having different performance parameters;
• associating the particular data blocks with one or more business transactions, wherein each of the one or more business transactions is of a different type and distinct from another business transaction;
• maintaining a set of information for each of the particular data blocks, including at least:
• an identifier for identifying the data block;
• a rank that indicates a significance of a particular business transaction with which the data block is associated;
• a measure of usage time likely to be expended operating with the data block;
• a type of access indicating whether access to the particular block would be random-access or sequential-access;
• a probability measured in time units indicating how soon the data block will be accessed;
• determining an anticipated order of the one or more business transactions based on the step of maintaining;
• and
• repositioning at least some of the data blocks between the at least first and second storage devices in response to the step of determining, wherein the repositioning includes moving one or more of the data blocks, less than an entire of the database structure, from a first particular storage device having a relatively inferior performance parameter to a second particular the storage device having a relatively superior performance parameter.

A system comprising at least one computer processor and one computer memory to implement a method of dynamic storage block tiering, wherein the method including steps of:

• at a database server capable of individually accessing particular data blocks, the data blocks being associated with database structures accessible by the database server, the server coupled to at least a first storage device and a second storage device, the storage devices having different performance parameters;
• associating the particular data blocks with one or more business transactions, wherein each of the one or more business transactions is of a different type and distinct from another business transaction;
• maintaining a set of information for each of the particular data blocks, including at least:
• an identifier for identifying the data block;
• a rank that indicates a significance of a particular business transaction with which the data block is associated;
• a measure of usage time likely to be expended operating with the data block;
• a type of access indicating whether access to the particular block would be random-access or sequential-access;
• a probability measured in time units indicating how soon the data block will be accessed;
• determining an anticipated order of the one or more business transactions based on the step of maintaining;
• and
• repositioning at least some of the data blocks between the at least first and second storage devices in response to the step of determining, wherein the repositioning includes moving one or more of the data blocks, less than an entire of the database structure, from a first particular storage device having a relatively inferior performance parameter to a second particular the storage device having a relatively superior performance parameter.