Patent ID: 7958304

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving an indication of a change to at least one of data characteristics and system characteristics of a storage system, the change comprising a change in data criticality, wherein data criticality reflects an importance of data; and in response to the change, dynamically reconfiguring Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) groups of the storage system by reorganizing storage devices in the RAID groups, wherein dynamically reconfiguring the RAID groups comprises: if the indication is an increase in data criticality, dynamically merging a first RAID group with a second RAID group to form a merged RAID group that includes the storage devices of the first RAID group and of the second RAID group; and if the indication is a decrease in data criticality, dynamically splitting one of the RAID groups into one or more split RAID groups, the one or more split RAID groups including the storage devices of the one of the RAID groups.