Described are techniques for initializing a device in a data storage system. An indicator is set in an entry associated with a portion of the device indicating that the portion of the device is to be initialized. A signature field of the entry is set with a signature value indicating that the portion of the device is to be initialized. The device is indicated as available for use after setting the indicator and the signature field for each portion of the device. The device has one or more portions and each of the portions has a corresponding entry including an indicator and a signature field.