Systems and methods for determining whether to perform a computing operation that is optimized for a specific storage-device-technology type
A computer-implemented method for determining whether to perform a computing operation that is optimized for a specific storage-device-technology type may comprise: 1) performing at least one proximate read operation by accessing a control location on a storage device and then accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically proximate to the control location, 2) performing at least one remote read operation by accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically remote from the control location, 3) determining, by comparing a length of time to access the proximate test location with a length of time to access the remote test location, a technology type of the storage device, and then 4) determining, based on the technology type of the storage device, whether to perform the computing operation. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
1. A computer-implemented method for determining whether to perform a computing operation that is optimized for a specific storage-device-technology type, the method comprising:
performing at least one proximate read operation, the proximate read operation comprising:
accessing a control location on a storage device;
accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically proximate to the control location;
performing at least one remote read operation, the remote read operation comprising accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically remote from the control location;
determining, by comparing a length of time to access the proximate test location with a length of time to access the remote test location, a technology type of the storage device;
determining, based on the technology type of the storage device, whether to perform the computing operation.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote read operation further comprises accessing the control location prior to accessing the remote test location.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximate test location is identical to the control location.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximate test location is distinct from both the control location and the remote test location.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling access-optimization functionality on the storage device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the disabling access-optimization functionality comprises disabling caching.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control location comprises:
a lowest logical location on the storage device;
a random location on the storage device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
accessing the control location comprises reading data from the control location;
accessing the proximate test location comprises reading data from the proximate test location;
accessing the remote test location comprises reading data from the remote test location.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
performing the proximate read operation comprises performing a plurality of proximate read operations;
performing the remote read operation comprises performing a plurality of remote read operations.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the technology type of the storage device comprises:
calculating an average length of time to access the proximate test locations;
calculating an average length of time to access the remote test locations;
comparing the average length of time to access the proximate test locations with the average length of time to access the remote test locations.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the technology type of the storage device comprises:
determining that the length of time to access the proximate test location is not identical to the length of time to access the remote test location;
determining that the storage device is a mechanical hard drive.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the technology type of the storage device comprises:
determining that the length of time to access the proximate test location is identical to the length of time to access the remote test location;
determining that the storage device is a solid state drive.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing operation comprises at least one of:
a defragment operation;
a system-startup-time enhancer;
a secure-deletion utility.
14. A system for determining whether to perform a computing operation that is optimized for a specific storage-device-technology type, the system comprising:
a data-access module programmed to:
perform at least one proximate read operation, the proximate read operation comprising:
accessing a control location on a storage device;
accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically proximate to the control location;
perform at least one remote read operation, the remote read operation comprising accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically remote from the control location;
a technology-type-identification module programmed to determine, by comparing a length of time to access the proximate test location with a length of time to access the remote test location, a technology type of the storage device;
an operation module programmed to determine, based on the technology type of the storage device, whether to perform the computing operation.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the remote read operation further comprises accessing the control location prior to accessing the remote test location.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the data-access module is further programmed to disable access-optimization functionality on the storage device.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the proximate test location is identical to the control location.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the proximate test location is distinct from both the control location and the remote test location.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control location comprises:
a lowest logical location on the storage device;
a random location on the storage device.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method for determining whether to perform a computing operation that is optimized for a specific storage-device-technology type, the method comprising:
performing at least one proximate read operation, the proximate read operation comprising:
accessing a control location on a storage device;
accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically proximate to the control location;
performing at least one remote read operation, the remote read operation comprising accessing a test location on the storage device that is logically remote from the control location;
determining, by comparing a length of time to access the proximate test location with a length of time to access the remote test location, a technology type of the storage device;
determining, based on the technology type of the storage device, whether to perform the computing operation.