1. A method for saving an object in a tier of a multi-tier virtual storage system while the storage system is active, comprising: identifying an object to be saved in an upper-level tier in the multi-tier virtual storage system, wherein the multi-tier virtual storage system resides on one or more physical storage devices; instructing servers associated with lower-level tiers below the tier containing the object to be saved to obtain the latest data stored in the respective associated tiers, use temporary storage to store the obtained data and handle any modifications to the obtained data, and cause applications running in the respective tiers to quiesce; making a copy of the identified object; and instructing the servers associated with the lower-level tiers to obtain the data from the temporary storage and resume quiesced applications running in the respective tiers.