Abstract: A method has the steps of: selectively storing one or more data pieces in at least one first device based on a group of one or more characteristics of the one or more data pieces and/or one or more characteristics of the at least one first device, the at least one first device being a physical or virtual device; the one or more characteristics of the one or more data pieces and the one or more characteristics of the at least one first device are unrelated to a storage capacity of the at least one first device.