NEXT-LEVEL MULTI-LEVEL DEDUPLICATION

A method, a system, and a computer program product for performing next level multi-level deduplication. A first zone stamp for a first data zone is generated and compared to a second zone stamp representing a second data zone, where the zones are first level data zones. The first and second data zones are deduplicated when the first zone stamp matches the second zone stamp. A second-level first zone stamp is selected when there is no match between first and second zone stamps. The second-level first zone stamp, representing a second-level first data zone in the first data zone, is compared to the second zone stamp and/or a second-level second zone stamp representing a second-level second data zone. The second-level first zone and one of the second data zone and the second-level second zone are deduplicated when the second-level first zone stamp matches one of the second zone stamp and the second-level second zone stamp.