Memory optimization for configuration elasticity in cloud environments

A system having a plurality of directors, at least some of which have a local director memory, accesses requested data by determining if requested data is in local director memory of a first one of the directors in response to an access request for the requested data by the first one of the directors. The system also determines if the requested data is native to the first one of the directors in response to the requested data not being in the local director memory of the first one of the directors, where data provided on a physical storage device coupled to the first one of the directors is native to the first one of the directors. The system also obtains the requested data from a second one of the directors in response to the requested data not being native to the first one of the directors.