A method of operating a memory controller, the method comprising: receiving (S210; S410) a state analysis request of a memory from a host ; determining (S10; S220; S425) a fragment state of the memory ; determining (S20; S220; S430) a lifespan situation of the memory ; generating (S30; S230) an analysis result indicating whether a garbage collection is restricted, based on the fragment state and the lifespan situation; and providing (S40; S230; S460) the analysis result to the host , wherein generating (S30; S230) the analysis result comprises: determining (S445) whether the garbage collection is restricted based on a host write count, in response to the memory being fragmented and the lifespan situation being such that an expected lifespan of the memory is determined not to fulfill a desired lifespan, wherein the determining (S445) whether the garbage collection is restricted based on the host write count comprises: determining whether the host write count is within a restriction section, and wherein generating (S30; S230) the analysis result further comprises: generating (S452) the analysis result such that the analysis result indicates that the garbage collection is restricted, in response to the host write count being within the restriction section, and generating (S453) the analysis result such that the analysis result indicates that the garbage collection is required, in response to the host write count being outside the restriction section. receiving (S210; S410) a state analysis request of a memory from a host ; determining (S10; S220; S425) a fragment state of the memory ; determining (S20; S220; S430) a lifespan situation of the memory ; generating (S30; S230) an analysis result indicating whether a garbage collection is restricted, based on the fragment state and the lifespan situation; and providing (S40; S230; S460) the analysis result to the host , wherein generating (S30; S230) the analysis result comprises: determining (S445) whether the garbage collection is restricted based on a host write count, in response to the memory being fragmented and the lifespan situation being such that an expected lifespan of the memory is determined not to fulfill a desired lifespan, wherein the determining (S445) whether the garbage collection is restricted based on the host write count comprises: determining whether the host write count is within a restriction section, and wherein generating (S30; S230) the analysis result further comprises: generating (S452) the analysis result such that the analysis result indicates that the garbage collection is restricted, in response to the host write count being within the restriction section, and generating (S453) the analysis result such that the analysis result indicates that the garbage collection is required, in response to the host write count being outside the restriction section. generating (S452) the analysis result such that the analysis result indicates that the garbage collection is restricted, in response to the host write count being within the restriction section, and generating (S453) the analysis result such that the analysis result indicates that the garbage collection is required, in response to the host write count being outside the restriction section. <EOS>