Drive partitioning for automated storage tiering

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software that delivers different data response time performance from a plurality of disk drives having similar performance characteristics, the software comprising:

• executable code that subdivides at least one disk drive platter of the disk drives into at least two separate portions, wherein a first portion has a first average response time and the second portion has a second average response time that is greater than the first average response time;
• and
• executable code that, for a first subset of data that is more frequently accessed than a second subset of data, places the first subset of data in the first portion of the at least one disk platter of the disk drives, the first subset of data thereby being accessible faster than the second subset of data being stored on the second portion of the at least one disk platter having a higher data response time performance, wherein the first portion of the at least one disk drive platter is radially disposed between a center of the at least one disk platter and an outer edge of the at least one disk platter, and wherein the second portion is radially inside the first portion and radially outside the first portion.

A fully automated storage tiering system, comprising:

• a plurality of disk drives, at least one of the disk drives having a platter that is subdivided into at least two separate portions, wherein a first portion has a first average response time and the second portion has a second average response time that is greater than the first average response time;
• and
• at least one director that, for a first subset of data that is more frequently accessed than a second subset of data, places the first subset of data in the first portion of the at least one disk platter of the disk drives, the first subset of data thereby being accessible faster than the second subset of data being stored on the second portion of the at least one disk platter having a higher data response time performance, wherein the first portion of the at least one disk drive platter is radially disposed between a center of the at least one disk platter and an outer edge of the at least one disk platter, and wherein the second portion is radially inside the first portion and radially outside the first portion.