Patent ID: 7949847

Claim:
A method of allocating storage space on a storage media for use in a volume, said storage media being configured in multiple array groups, the method comprising: receiving a write command to store write data to the volume; determining a plurality of array groups out of the multiple array groups from which to allocate a plurality of storage extents on the storage media to store the write data in response to said write command; determining a designated performance level for said volume after receiving said write command; and determining a number of storage extents to be allocated based on said designated performance level, wherein each of said allocated plurality of storage extents is located in different storage mediums of said plurality of storage mediums, wherein the plurality of array groups are chosen based upon a performance metric of the array groups; and allocating the plurality of storage extents from different array groups for storage of the write data in response to said write command, according to the determined number of storage extents to be allocated based on said designated performance level.