perform backup management operations in a manner that requires the fewest lsus to be active at any given time thus instead of distributing backup jobs among all candidate lsus within storage array 230 backup storage management module 110 can assign backup jobs in a manner that prioritizes utilizing the full capacity of each lsu e g such that if x is the maximum number of concurrent jobs supported by an lsu x sequential jobs will be assigned to that lsu if possible as well as grouping the storage of similar e g based upon time to live likelihood of subsequent duplication file type owner creator and the like backup images on the same lsu backup module 200 can also use power management information indicating the costs e g in terms of power consumption of various actions when selecting backup storage management operations and or power management operations e g transitioning the power state of an lsu to perform for example if the cost of transitioning the power state of an lsu exceeds the cost of keeping that lsu in a fully powered state during the transition period it may not be cost effective to transition that lsu to a non fully powered state.