Systems and methods for performing storage operations using network attached storage

A method for controlling a networked storage device, the method comprising:

• with a computing device, controlling a first storage device coupled to a network to write electronic data to a first storage location in the first storage device, the first storage device comprising first computer hardware and an internal operating system, the electronic data generated by a software application running on a first client computing device of a plurality of client computing devices coupled to the network;
• consulting a stored storage criteria to determine that the electronic data is to be moved to a second storage location in a second storage device different than the first storage device;
• in response to the determination that the electronic data is to be moved to the second storage location, copying the electronic data to the second storage location with a computing device;
• subsequent to said copying, receiving a read request to access the electronic data from the first storage device;
• in response to the read request, controlling the first storage device with a computing device to access re-direction information from the first storage device, the re-direction information pointing to the second storage location on the second storage device;
• using the re-direction information to control the second storage device with a computing device to obtain the electronic data from the second storage location without transferring the electronic data to the first storage location in the first storage device;
• and
• in response to a write request received subsequent to the obtaining the electronic data,
• storing a modified version of the electronic data in the second storage device, and
• updating the re-direction information without transferring the electronic data to the first storage location in the first storage device.

A system comprising:

• a first storage device coupled to a network and comprising first computer hardware and an internal operating system;
• one or more computing devices externally located with respect to the first storage device configured to:
• control the first storage device to write electronic data to a first storage location in the first storage device, the electronic data generated by a software application running on a first client computing device of a plurality of client computing devices coupled to the network;
• consult a stored storage criteria to determine that the electronic data is to be moved to a second storage location in a second storage device different than the first storage device;
• in response to the determination that the electronic data is to be moved to the second storage location, copy the electronic data to the second storage location with a computing device;
• subsequent to said copying, receive a read request to access the electronic data;
• in response to the read request, control the first storage device with a computing device to access re-direction information from the first storage device, the re-direction information pointing to the second storage location on the second storage device;
• use the re-direction information to control the second storage device with a computing device to obtain the electronic data from the second storage location, without transferring the electronic data to the first storage location in the first storage device;
• and
• in response to a write request received subsequent to the obtaining the electronic data,
• store a modified version of the electronic data in the second storage device, and
• update the re-direction information without transferring the electronic data to the first storage location in the first storage device.

Non-transitory computer-readable storage comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed cause computer hardware to perform operations defined by the computer-readable instructions, the operations comprising:

• with a computing device, controlling a first storage device coupled to a network to write electronic data to a first storage location in the first storage device, the first storage device comprising first computer hardware and an internal operating system, the electronic data generated by a software application running on a first client computing device of a plurality of client computing devices coupled to the network;
• consulting a stored storage criteria to determine that the electronic data is to be moved to a second storage location in a second storage device different than the first storage device;
• in response to the determination that the electronic data is to be moved to the second storage location, copying the electronic data to the second storage location with a computing device;
• subsequent to said copying, receiving a read request to access the electronic data from the first storage device;
• in response to the read request, controlling the first storage device with a computing device to access re-direction information from the first storage device, the re-direction information pointing to the second storage location on the second storage device;
• using the re-direction information to control the second storage device with a computing device to obtain the electronic data from the second storage location without transferring the electronic data to the first storage location in the first storage device;
• and
• in response to a write request received subsequent to the obtaining the electronic data,
• storing a modified version of the electronic data in the second storage device, and
• updating the re-direction information without transferring the electronic data to the first storage location in the first storage device.