Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to register a second data storage system of a second data center in a first data storage system of a first data center, storing data center connection information to connect the second data center to the first data center, replicating a database to the first data storage system and enabling a first data storage system to access and control components of the second data center using the component connection information and the component management information. The data base includes component connection information to connect the second storage system to the components of the second data center and component management information required to monitor and manage the components.

Abstract: A cloud storage appliance receives one or more read requests for data stored in a storage cloud. The cloud storage appliance determines, for a time period, a total amount of bandwidth that will be used to retrieve the requested data from the storage cloud. The cloud storage appliance then determines an amount of remaining bandwidth for the time period. The cloud storage appliance retrieves the requested data from the storage cloud in the time period to satisfy the one or more read requests. The cloud storage appliance additionally retrieves a quantity of unrequested data from the storage cloud in the time period, wherein the quantity of retrieved unrequested data is based on the amount of remaining bandwidth for the time period.