US Patent 10101917 Evaluating and selecting data caching techniques

Described are techniques for evaluating a plurality of caching techniques. Cache decision engines (CDEs) are executed where each CDE uses a different caching technique. The CDEs includes a first CDE that performs data caching in accordance with a plurality of I/O operations and one or more other CDEs each simulating data caching in accordance with the plurality of I/O operations. Sets of performance data are determined with a different one of the sets of performance data determined for each of the CDEs thereby denoting measured performance for the CDE. Using the sets of performance data, it is determined whether any of the one or more other CDEs each simulating data caching has better performance than the first CDE.