Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for preserving a deleted storage volume. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a receiving module, a reference module, and a preservation module. The receiving module receives a deletion command to delete a data volume managed by a storage controller. The data volume is associated with one or more deletion parameters specifying that data of the data volume is to be preserved upon deletion of the data volume. The reference module references the deletion parameters. The preservation module preserves the data of the data volume prior to the storage controller deleting the data volume. The preservation module preserves the data of the data volume according to the deletion parameters.

Abstract: A main data storage system has a main storage control and data storage, and a user interface, the main storage control in communication with a local storage control of a local data storage system with local data storage. In response to a request to increase data storage from the user interface, the main control determines whether the main data storage is out of space. If so, the main control sends a command to the local control to create data space in local data storage. The local control creates the data space and associates the data space with the main control; and, in response to the local control creating data space in the local data storage and notifying the main control, the main control updates its metadata with respect to the data space, creating the impression that all the data is stored in the main data storage.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for preserving a deleted storage volume. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a receiving module, a reference module, and a preservation module. The receiving module receives a deletion command to delete a data volume managed by a storage controller. The data volume is associated with one or more deletion parameters specifying that data of the data volume is to be preserved upon deletion of the data volume. The reference module references the deletion parameters. The preservation module preserves the data of the data volume prior to the storage controller deleting the data volume. The preservation module preserves the data of the data volume according to the deletion parameters.