Storage pool capacity management

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a pool of persistent storage volumes. Capacity of the volumes is managed to ensure continued operation and function of the volumes with respect to their corresponding storage pool capacity threshold(s). A background process groups the volumes within each pool into one or more clusters based on a similarity or commonality characteristic. The background process selectively performs one or more space savings techniques of a copy of a selected volume, measures impact data associated with the techniques, and maintains the data. At such time as the threshold level is approached for a storage pool, one or more space reduction actions take place on constituent volumes in view of the background process and the associated groups. The reduction action includes implementation of a space saving technique, such as compression and/or thinning, of one or more volumes in one or more clusters in an associated storage pool.