Avoiding deadlock between storage assignments by devices in a network

A system for managing storage of at least one item in a network of heterogeneous storage devices, the system comprising:

• an event detection module, the event detection module detecting storage events on the heterogeneous storage devices;
• an input provider module, the input provider module providing item metrics and storage device metrics;
• a plurality of decision engines;
• each decision engine being connected to the input provider module and the event detection module;
• each decision engine determining storage assignment, the storage assignment assigning the item to one or more of the heterogeneous storage devices based on item-device suitability, wherein;
• each decision engine includes a policy module with at least one item selection rule, at least one storage selection rule, and rules for preventing a deadlock between storage assignments;
• and
• a storage assignment implementation module connected to;
• each decision engine, the storage assignment implementation module storing the item on one or more of the heterogeneous storage devices in accordance with the storage assignment.