Patent attributes
A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a volume at a first cluster in a first tier of a tiered data storage system. The first tier includes of a plurality of clusters, and the first cluster is coupled to a secondary storage in a second tier. A determination is made as to whether any clusters in the first tier are designated as copy target locations for the volume. In response to determining that one or more of the clusters in the first tier are designated as a copy target location, for each of the one or more clusters designated as a copy target location: a determination is made as to whether the given cluster is coupled to the secondary storage. Moreover, in response to determining that the given cluster is not coupled to the secondary storage, a copy of the volume is sent to the given cluster.