A data processing method to improve data storage flexibility includes receiving, by a first storage management device, a data write request generated by a host, where the host is provided with the first storage management device, determining, by the first storage management device according to the data write request, scheduling information corresponding to the data write request, where the data write request includes to-be-written data, and the scheduling information corresponding to the data write request indicates a distributed storage pool, or a local storage device of the host, and processing, by the first storage management device, the to-be-written data according to the scheduling information corresponding to the data write request.