Temporary cache memory eviction

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that once executed by a storage system causes the storage system to executed the stages of:

• calculating a first cost associated with an execution of a cache memory manipulation process;
• determining whether to execute the cache memory manipulation process in response to the first cost;
• if it is determined to perform the cache memory manipulation process, executing the foil owing steps:
• storing first retrieval metadata of a first data that is cached in a cache memory of the storage system, in response to an expected or an actual occurrence of a cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the cache memory consuming event involves storing second data in the cache memory for a second caching period;
• replacing, in the cache memory, the first data by the second data;
• wherein the second caching period is a fraction of a first caching period associated with the first data;
• and
• evicting the second data from the cache memory and retrieving the first data to the cache memory at an end of the cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the retrieving of the first data involves retrieving the first data from a storage unit that differs from the cache memory while using the first retrieval metadata;
• wherein the first cost is indicative of a size of the second data and of a length of the second caching period.

A storage system comprising a cache memory, a controller and a storage unit that differs from the cache memory;

• wherein the storage system is configured to:
• calculate a first cost associated with an execution of a cache memory manipulation process;
• determine whether to execute the cache memory manipulation process in response to the first cost;
• if it is determined to perform the cache memory manipulation process, the storage system is configured to store first retrieval metadata of a first data that is cached in the cache memory, in response to an expected or an actual occurrence of a cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the cache memory consuming event involves storing second data in the cache memory for a second caching period;
• wherein the controller is configured to control a replacement, in the cache memory, of the first data by the second data;
• wherein the second caching period is a fraction of a first caching period associated with the first data;
• and to control an eviction of the second data from the cache memory and a retrieval of the first data to the cache memory in response to an actual or estimated end of the cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the retrieval of the first data involves retrieving the first data from the storage unit while using the first retrieval metadata;
• wherein the first cost is indicative of a size of the second data and of a length of the second caching period.

A method comprising:

• calculating a first cost associated with an execution of a cache memory manipulation process;
• determining whether to execute the cache memory manipulation process in response to the first cost;
• and
• executing the cache memory manipulation process when it is determined to execute the cache memory manipulation process;
• wherein the execution of the cache memory manipulation process comprises:
• storing first retrieval metadata of a first data that is cached in the cache memory, in response to an expected or an actual occurrence of a cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the cache memory consuming event involves storing second data in the cache memory for a second caching period;
• replacing, in the cache memory, the first data by the second data;
• wherein the second caching period is a fraction of a first caching period associated with the first data;
• and
• evicting the second data from the cache memory and retrieving the first data to the cache memory in response to an actual or estimated end of the cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the retrieving of the first data involves retrieving the first data from a storage unit that differs from the cache memory while using the first retrieval metadata;
• wherein the first cost is indicative of a size of the second data and of a length of the second caching period.

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that once executed by a storage system causes the storage system to executed the stages of:

• calculating a first cost associated with an execution of a cache memory manipulation process;
• determining whether to execute the cache memory manipulation process in response to the first cost;
• and
• executing the cache memory manipulation process when it is determined to execute the cache memory manipulation process;
• wherein the execution of the cache memory manipulation process comprises:
• storing first retrieval metadata of a first data that is cached in the cache memory, in response to an expected or an actual occurrence of a cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the cache memory consuming event involves storing second data in the cache memory for a second caching period;
• replacing, in the cache memory, the first data by the second data;
• wherein the second caching period is a fraction of a first caching period associated with the first data;
• and
• evicting the second data from the cache memory and retrieving the first data to the cache memory in response to an actual or estimated end of the cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the retrieving of the first data involves retrieving the first data from a storage unit that differs from the cache memory while using the first retrieval metadata;
• wherein the first cost is indicative of a size of the second data and of a length of the second caching period.

A storage system comprising a cache memory, a controller and a storage unit that differs from the cache memory;

• wherein the controller is configured to calculate a first cost associated with an execution of a cache memory manipulation process;
• determine whether to execute the cache memory manipulation process in response to the first cost;
• and execute the cache memory manipulation process when it is determined to execute the cache memory manipulation process;
• wherein the execution of the cache memory manipulation process comprises:
• storing first retrieval metadata of a first data that is cached in the cache memory, in response to an expected or an actual occurrence of a cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the cache memory consuming event involves storing second data in the cache memory for a second caching period;
• replacing, in the cache memory, the first data by the second data;
• wherein the second caching period is a fraction of a first caching period associated with the first data;
• and evicting the second data from the cache memory and retrieving the first data to the cache memory in response to an actual or estimated end of the cache memory consuming event;
• wherein the retrieving of the first data involves retrieving the first data from a storage unit that differs from the cache memory while using the first retrieval metadata;
• wherein the first cost is indicative of a size of the second data and of a length of the second caching period.