Techniques can include: configuring a federation to have a volume as active from only a first storage system so that hosts only sends I/O operations, directed to the first volume, to the first storage system; configuring a second storage system of the federation as inactive with respect to volume; determining, in accordance with criteria, to allow I/O operations directed to the volume to be sent to both the first and second storage systems; transitioning the second storage system, with respect to the volume, from inactive to active; and receiving, from a host at the first and second storage systems, I/O operations directed to the volume while the first and second storage systems are configured as active. The I/O operations can include a first I/O operation received at the second storage system which is redirected, by the second storage system, to the first storage system for servicing.