A method comprising: maintaining, by a first network device, a self-awareness of a status of the first network device, including a plurality of parameters; receiving, by the first network device, a request for storage resources from a second network device, wherein the request includes a set of parameters defining the storage resources that are needed; developing , by the first network device, a willingness score of the first network device to provide the requested storage resources to the second network device, wherein the willingness score is based an assessment of the first network node's capability of satisfying the parameters of the request based on an evaluation of at least some of the plurality of parameters of the first network device; if the willingness score is less than a minimum value, refraining from providing a response to the request; if the willingness score is greater than the minimum value, providing , to the second network device, a response to the request, wherein the response comprises a bid by the first network device to provide the requested storage resources to the second network device and reserving the requested storage resources; determining whether a notification of acceptance of the bid has been received from the second network device; if notification of the acceptance of the bid is received from the second network device within a time out period, provisioning the storage resources to the second network device based on the acceptance of the bid; and if notification of the acceptance of the bid is not received from the second network device within the time out period , releasing the reserved storage resources. maintaining, by a first network device, a self-awareness of a status of the first network device, including a plurality of parameters; receiving, by the first network device, a request for storage resources from a second network device, wherein the request includes a set of parameters defining the storage resources that are needed; developing , by the first network device, a willingness score of the first network device to provide the requested storage resources to the second network device, wherein the willingness score is based an assessment of the first network node's capability of satisfying the parameters of the request based on an evaluation of at least some of the plurality of parameters of the first network device; if the willingness score is less than a minimum value, refraining from providing a response to the request; if the willingness score is greater than the minimum value, providing , to the second network device, a response to the request, wherein the response comprises a bid by the first network device to provide the requested storage resources to the second network device and reserving the requested storage resources; determining whether a notification of acceptance of the bid has been received from the second network device; if notification of the acceptance of the bid is received from the second network device within a time out period, provisioning the storage resources to the second network device based on the acceptance of the bid; and if notification of the acceptance of the bid is not received from the second network device within the time out period , releasing the reserved storage resources. <EOS>