When data is stored in many storage subsystems, metadata, such as a
sequence number, is also generated and stored with the data. When the
data is accessed, the metadata is checked to ensure that the desired data
element has been accessed. In conventional storage subsystems, data
elements, such as logical blocks, are stored sequentially in logical
pages of each logical volume. Consequently, sequence numbers closely
correlate with block positions within the physical pages and sequence
number/position patterns tend to repeat frequently and access errors may
not be detected. Algorithms are provided to calculate new, offset,
physical block positions which reduce the close association of sequence
numbers and physical positions, thereby reducing such aliasing. The
algorithms incorporate the logical volume number, the logical page
number, or both, in addition to the logical block number. As a result,
detection of access errors becomes more likely.