Patent ID: 8443163

Claim:
A method for tier-based slice allocation and data relocation in a data storage array, the method comprising: at the data storage array including physical data storage, wherein the physical data storage is logically divided into one or more logical units (LUs), wherein each of the one or more LUs are further subdivided into one or more slices, wherein the data storage array includes a resource pool being divided into a plurality of resource groups, wherein each resource group includes one or more resources of a shared resource type: receiving a slice allocation request for allocating a slice from the data storage array, wherein the slice allocation request includes at least one constraint; determining whether the at least one constraint cannot be satisfied; in response to determining that the at least one constraint can be satisfied, allocating a slice that honors the at least one constraint; and in response to determining that the at least one constraint cannot be satisfied, not allocating a slice.