Block-level predictive data migration

A computer program product for migrating data in a tiered storage architecture, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied therein, the computer-usable program code comprising:

• computer-usable program code to track temperature of data blocks in a tiered storage architecture, the temperature indicating a frequency of access of the data blocks;
• computer-usable program code to generate heat maps indicating the temperature of the data blocks over different time intervals;
• computer-usable program code to process the heat maps using an image processing algorithm;
• computer-usable program code to compare the heat maps from the time intervals to identify temperature patterns occurring over time;
• computer-usable program code to predict, from the temperature patterns, when selected data blocks will change in temperature;
• and
• computer-usable program code to migrate the selected data blocks between tiers of the tiered storage architecture in anticipation of their changes in temperature.

An apparatus for migrating data in a tiered storage architecture, the apparatus comprising:

• a temperature tracking module to track temperature of data blocks in a tiered storage architecture, the temperature indicating a frequency of access of the data blocks;
• a heat map generation module to generate heat maps indicating the temperature of the data blocks across different time intervals;
• a processing module to process the heat maps using an image processing algorithm;
• a temperature pattern identification module to compare the heat maps from the time intervals to identify temperature patterns occurring over time;
• a predication module to predict, from the temperature patterns, when selected data blocks will change in temperature;
• and
• a data migration module to migrate the selected data blocks between tiers of the tiered storage architecture in anticipation of their changes in temperature.