Patent ID: 7353334

Claim:
A method of optimizing cache performance in a storage area network, comprising: (a) setting an initial cache management policy for at least a portion of storage in said storage area network, comprising the steps of: choosing an initial cache management policy for at least a portion of a storage volume of said storage area network; determining an address range of said portion of a storage volume; constructing a command packet, wherein said command packet includes said initial cache management policy and said address range; sending said command packet to a cache controller of said storage area network; and configuring said cache controller to operate the cache memory in accordance with said initial cache management policy with respect to said portion of a storage volume; (b) operating said cache in accordance with said initial cache management policy for host command accessing said portion of storage, wherein said operating includes gathering cache operation statistics; (c) determining whether a system performance goal has been met; (d) if said system performance goal has not been met, determining a new cache management policy for said portion of storage, and repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) until said system performance goal has been met.