A method according to one embodiment may include retrieving selected data from one or more mass storage devices, based at least in part on historical device access information of at least one requester of data. A method according to another embodiment may include retrieving, by an integrated circuit, device data layout information from one or more mass storage devices, and storing, by the integrated circuit, the device data layout information in cache memory. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.