Multi-tier bandwidth-centric deduplication

Example apparatus and methods concern multi-tier bandwidth-centric deduplication. One example apparatus supports inline bandwidth-centric deduplication with post-processing space-centric deduplication to improve inline bandwidth-centric deduplication and thereby reduce bandwidth requirements. One example method may include determining whether a bandwidth-centric deduplication device can satisfy a deduplication request associated with a data communication and then deciding whether to engage a space-centric deduplication device to co-operate in attempting to satisfy the request. More generally, the method includes controlling a first deduplication device to participate in bandwidth reduction and selectively controlling a second deduplication device to also participate in the bandwidth reduction.