diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a29982038..449a020dc 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ __pycache__
 /rpc/mayastor-api
 /local-fio-0-verify.state
 /report.xml
+/.tmp
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/reconciler/pool/mod.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/reconciler/pool/mod.rs
index 73a6bbfe2..b2572e3d4 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/reconciler/pool/mod.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/reconciler/pool/mod.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ impl TaskPoller for PoolReconciler {
             results.push(Self::squash_results(vec![
                 pool.garbage_collect(context).await,
                 pool.recreate_state(context).await,
+                retry_create_pool_reconciler(&mut pool, context).await,
             ]))
         }
         capacity::remove_larger_replicas(context.registry()).await;
@@ -214,3 +215,12 @@ async fn deleting_pool_spec_reconciler(
     ))
     .await
 }
+
+#[tracing::instrument(skip(pool, context), level = "trace", fields(pool.id = %pool.id(), request.reconcile = true))]
+async fn retry_create_pool_reconciler(
+    pool: &mut OperationGuardArc<PoolSpec>,
+    context: &PollContext,
+) -> PollResult {
+    pool.retry_creating(context.registry()).await?;
+    Ok(PollerState::Idle)
+}
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/registry.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/registry.rs
index 83dea07ea..41e3db591 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/registry.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/registry.rs
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ pub(crate) struct RegistryInner<S: Store> {
     /// The duration for which the reconciler waits for the replica to
     /// to be healthy again before attempting to online the faulted child.
     faulted_child_wait_period: Option<std::time::Duration>,
+    /// When the pool creation gRPC times out, the actual call in the io-engine
+    /// may still progress.
+    /// We wait up to this period before considering the operation a failure and
+    /// GC'ing the pool.
+    pool_async_creat_tmo: std::time::Duration,
     /// Disable partial rebuild for volume targets.
     disable_partial_rebuild: bool,
     /// Disable nvmf target access control gates.
@@ -122,6 +127,7 @@ impl Registry {
         reconcile_period: std::time::Duration,
         reconcile_idle_period: std::time::Duration,
         faulted_child_wait_period: Option<std::time::Duration>,
+        pool_async_creat_tmo: std::time::Duration,
         disable_partial_rebuild: bool,
         disable_target_acc: bool,
         max_rebuilds: Option<NumRebuilds>,
@@ -165,6 +171,7 @@ impl Registry {
                 reconcile_period,
                 reconcile_idle_period,
                 faulted_child_wait_period,
+                pool_async_creat_tmo,
                 disable_partial_rebuild,
                 disable_target_acc,
                 reconciler: ReconcilerControl::new(),
@@ -298,6 +305,10 @@ impl Registry {
     pub(crate) fn faulted_child_wait_period(&self) -> Option<std::time::Duration> {
         self.faulted_child_wait_period
     }
+    /// Allow for this given time before assuming failure and allowing the pool to get deleted.
+    pub(crate) fn pool_async_creat_tmo(&self) -> std::time::Duration {
+        self.pool_async_creat_tmo
+    }
     /// The maximum number of concurrent create volume requests.
     pub(crate) fn create_volume_limit(&self) -> usize {
         self.create_volume_limit
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/resources/operations_helper.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/resources/operations_helper.rs
index 3bf259913..ef855a812 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/resources/operations_helper.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/controller/resources/operations_helper.rs
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ enum SpecError {
 }
 
 /// What to do when creation fails.
+#[derive(Debug)]
 pub(crate) enum OnCreateFail {
     /// Leave object as `Creating`, could allow for frontend retries.
-    #[allow(unused)]
     LeaveAsIs,
     /// When frontend retries don't make sense, set it to deleting so we can clean-up.
     SetDeleting,
@@ -68,7 +68,28 @@ impl OnCreateFail {
     pub(crate) fn eeinval_delete<O>(result: &Result<O, SvcError>) -> Self {
         match result {
             Err(error) if error.tonic_code() == tonic::Code::InvalidArgument => Self::Delete,
-            Err(error) if error.tonic_code() == tonic::Code::NotFound => Self::Delete,
+            _ => Self::SetDeleting,
+        }
+    }
+    /// Map errors into `Self` for pool creation requests, specifically.
+    pub(crate) fn on_pool_create_err<O>(result: &Result<O, SvcError>) -> Self {
+        let Err(ref error) = result else {
+            // nonsensical but that's how the api is today...
+            return Self::SetDeleting;
+        };
+        match error.tonic_code() {
+            // 1. the disk is open by another pool or bdev
+            // 2. the disk contains a pool with another name
+            tonic::Code::InvalidArgument => Self::Delete,
+            // 1. the pool disk is not available (ie not found or broken somehow)
+            tonic::Code::NotFound => Self::Delete,
+            // In this case, it's the pool operator's job to attempt re-creation of the pool.
+            // 1. pre-2.6 dataplane, contention on the pool service
+            // 2. pool disk is very slow or extremely large
+            // 3. dataplane core is shared with other processes
+            // TODO: use higher timeout on larger pool sizes or potentially make this
+            //  an async operation.
+            tonic::Code::Cancelled => Self::LeaveAsIs,
             _ => Self::SetDeleting,
         }
     }
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/main.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/main.rs
index e0b584dff..745d52f4f 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/main.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/main.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,13 @@ pub(crate) struct CliArgs {
     #[clap(long)]
     pub(crate) faulted_child_wait_period: Option<humantime::Duration>,
 
+    /// When the pool creation gRPC times out, the actual call in the io-engine
+    /// may still progress.
+    /// We wait up to this period before considering the operation a failure and
+    /// GC'ing the pool.
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "15m")]
+    pub(crate) pool_async_creat_tmo: humantime::Duration,
+
     /// Disable partial rebuild for volume targets.
     #[clap(long, env = "DISABLE_PARTIAL_REBUILD")]
     pub(crate) disable_partial_rebuild: bool,
@@ -194,6 +201,7 @@ async fn server(cli_args: CliArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         cli_args.reconcile_period.into(),
         cli_args.reconcile_idle_period.into(),
         cli_args.faulted_child_wait_period.map(|t| t.into()),
+        cli_args.pool_async_creat_tmo.into(),
         cli_args.disable_partial_rebuild,
         cli_args.disable_target_acc,
         cli_args.max_rebuilds,
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/operations_helper.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/operations_helper.rs
index ce02ba3ae..0ed7152bf 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/operations_helper.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/operations_helper.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,77 @@
-use crate::controller::{
-    registry::Registry,
-    resources::{operations::ResourceLifecycle, OperationGuardArc},
+use crate::{
+    controller::{
+        io_engine::PoolApi,
+        registry::Registry,
+        resources::{
+            operations::ResourceLifecycle,
+            operations_helper::{GuardedOperationsHelper, OnCreateFail, SpecOperationsHelper},
+            OperationGuardArc,
+        },
+    },
+    node::wrapper::GetterOps,
 };
 use agents::{errors, errors::SvcError};
 use snafu::OptionExt;
+use std::ops::Deref;
 use stor_port::types::v0::{
-    store::replica::{PoolRef, ReplicaSpec},
-    transport::{DestroyReplica, NodeId, ReplicaOwners},
+    store::{
+        pool::PoolSpec,
+        replica::{PoolRef, ReplicaSpec},
+    },
+    transport::{CreatePool, DestroyReplica, NodeId, ReplicaOwners},
 };
 
+impl OperationGuardArc<PoolSpec> {
+    /// Retries the creation of the pool which is being done in the background by the io-engine.
+    /// This may happen if the pool create gRPC times out, for very large pools.
+    /// We could increase the timeout but as things stand today that would block all gRPC
+    /// access to the node.
+    /// TODO: Since the data-plane now allows concurrent gRPC we should also modify the
+    ///  control-plane to allow this, which would allows to set large timeouts for some gRPCs.
+    pub(crate) async fn retry_creating(&mut self, registry: &Registry) -> Result<(), SvcError> {
+        let request = {
+            let spec = self.lock();
+            if on_create_fail(&spec, registry).is_some() {
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+            CreatePool::from(spec.deref())
+        };
+
+        let node = registry.node_wrapper(&request.node).await?;
+        if node.pool(&request.id).await.is_none() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        let _ = self.start_create(registry, &request).await?;
+        let result = node.create_pool(&request).await;
+        let _state = self
+            .complete_create(result, registry, OnCreateFail::LeaveAsIs)
+            .await?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Ge the `OnCreateFail` policy.
+    /// For more information see [`Self::retry_creating`].
+    pub(crate) fn on_create_fail(&self, registry: &Registry) -> OnCreateFail {
+        let spec = self.lock();
+        on_create_fail(&spec, registry).unwrap_or(OnCreateFail::LeaveAsIs)
+    }
+}
+
+fn on_create_fail(pool: &PoolSpec, registry: &Registry) -> Option<OnCreateFail> {
+    if !pool.status().creating() {
+        return Some(OnCreateFail::LeaveAsIs);
+    }
+    let Some(last_mod_elapsed) = pool.creat_tsc.and_then(|t| t.elapsed().ok()) else {
+        return Some(OnCreateFail::SetDeleting);
+    };
+    if last_mod_elapsed > registry.pool_async_creat_tmo() {
+        return Some(OnCreateFail::SetDeleting);
+    }
+    None
+}
+
 impl OperationGuardArc<ReplicaSpec> {
     /// Destroy the replica from its volume
     pub(crate) async fn destroy_volume_replica(
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/pool_operations.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/pool_operations.rs
index da3ac6730..34d27abb0 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/pool_operations.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/pool_operations.rs
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ impl ResourceLifecycle for OperationGuardArc<PoolSpec> {
         let _ = pool.start_create(registry, request).await?;
 
         let result = node.create_pool(request).await;
-        let on_fail = OnCreateFail::eeinval_delete(&result);
-
+        let on_fail = OnCreateFail::on_pool_create_err(&result);
         let state = pool.complete_create(result, registry, on_fail).await?;
         let spec = pool.lock().clone();
         Ok(Pool::new(spec, Some(CtrlPoolState::new(state))))
@@ -93,14 +92,11 @@ impl ResourceLifecycle for OperationGuardArc<PoolSpec> {
             Err(SvcError::PoolNotFound { .. }) => {
                 match node.import_pool(&self.as_ref().into()).await {
                     Ok(_) => node.destroy_pool(request).await,
-                    Err(error)
-                        if allow_not_found
-                            && error.tonic_code() == tonic::Code::InvalidArgument =>
-                    {
-                        Ok(())
-                    }
-                    Err(error) if error.tonic_code() == tonic::Code::InvalidArgument => Ok(()),
-                    Err(error) => Err(error),
+                    Err(error) => match error.tonic_code() {
+                        tonic::Code::NotFound if allow_not_found => Ok(()),
+                        tonic::Code::InvalidArgument => Ok(()),
+                        _other => Err(error),
+                    },
                 }
             }
             Err(error) => Err(error),
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/specs.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/specs.rs
index 2ce080600..bcd070671 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/specs.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/pool/specs.rs
@@ -425,7 +425,9 @@ impl ResourceSpecsLocked {
         let pools = self.pools_rsc();
         for pool in pools {
             if let Ok(mut guard) = pool.operation_guard() {
-                if !guard.handle_incomplete_ops(registry).await {
+                let on_fail = guard.on_create_fail(registry);
+
+                if !guard.handle_incomplete_ops_ext(registry, on_fail).await {
                     // Not all pending operations could be handled.
                     pending_ops = true;
                 }
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/controller/mod.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/controller/mod.rs
index 099d0e807..57f4db1ba 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/controller/mod.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/controller/mod.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use stor_port::{
 };
 
 use serde_json::Value;
-use std::str::FromStr;
+use std::{str::FromStr, time::Duration};
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
 /// Test that the content of the registry is correctly loaded from the persistent store on start up.
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ async fn etcd_pagination() {
         .with_rest(false)
         .with_jaeger(false)
         .with_store_lease_ttl(lease_ttl)
+        .with_req_timeouts(Duration::from_millis(200), Duration::from_millis(200))
         .build()
         .await
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/deserializer.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/deserializer.rs
index b56ebbfb6..3b8378043 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/deserializer.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/deserializer.rs
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ fn test_deserialization_v1_to_v2() {
                 },
                 sequencer: Default::default(),
                 operation: None,
+                creat_tsc: None,
             }),
         },
         TestEntry {
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/pool/mod.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/pool/mod.rs
index 649246558..64e5a17f7 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/pool/mod.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/pool/mod.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ use stor_port::{
                 VolumePolicy,
             },
         },
-        store::replica::{ReplicaSpec, ReplicaSpecKey},
+        store::{
+            pool::PoolLabel,
+            replica::{ReplicaSpec, ReplicaSpecKey},
+        },
         transport::{
             CreatePool, CreateReplica, DestroyPool, DestroyReplica, Filter, GetSpecs, NexusId,
             NodeId, Protocol, Replica, ReplicaId, ReplicaName, ReplicaOwners, ReplicaShareProtocol,
@@ -1027,3 +1030,84 @@ async fn destroy_after_restart() {
 
     assert_eq!(pool.state().unwrap().id, create.id);
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn slow_create() {
+    const POOL_SIZE_BYTES: u64 = 128 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+    let vg = deployer_cluster::lvm::VolGroup::new("slow-pool", POOL_SIZE_BYTES).unwrap();
+    let lvol = vg.create_lvol("lvol0", POOL_SIZE_BYTES / 2).unwrap();
+    lvol.suspend().unwrap();
+    {
+        let cluster = ClusterBuilder::builder()
+            .with_io_engines(1)
+            .with_reconcile_period(Duration::from_millis(250), Duration::from_millis(250))
+            .with_cache_period("200ms")
+            .with_options(|o| o.with_io_engine_devices(vec![lvol.path()]))
+            .with_req_timeouts(Duration::from_millis(500), Duration::from_millis(500))
+            .compose_build(|b| b.with_clean(true))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let client = cluster.grpc_client();
+
+        let create = CreatePool {
+            node: cluster.node(0),
+            id: "bob".into(),
+            disks: vec![lvol.path().into()],
+            labels: Some(PoolLabel::from([("a".into(), "b".into())])),
+        };
+
+        let error = client
+            .pool()
+            .create(&create, None)
+            .await
+            .expect_err("device suspended");
+        assert_eq!(error.kind, ReplyErrorKind::Cancelled);
+
+        lvol.resume().unwrap();
+
+        let start = std::time::Instant::now();
+        let timeout = Duration::from_secs(30);
+        loop {
+            if std::time::Instant::now() > (start + timeout) {
+                panic!("Timeout waiting for the pool");
+            }
+            tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+
+            let pools = client
+                .pool()
+                .get(Filter::Pool(create.id.clone()), None)
+                .await
+                .unwrap();
+
+            let Some(pool) = pools.0.first() else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            let Some(pool_spec) = pool.spec() else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            if !pool_spec.status.created() {
+                continue;
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+        let destroy = DestroyPool::from(create.clone());
+        client.pool().destroy(&destroy, None).await.unwrap();
+
+        // Now we try to recreate using an API call, rather than using the reconciler
+        lvol.suspend().unwrap();
+
+        let error = client
+            .pool()
+            .create(&create, None)
+            .await
+            .expect_err("device suspended");
+        assert_eq!(error.kind, ReplyErrorKind::Cancelled);
+
+        lvol.resume().unwrap();
+
+        let pool = client.pool().create(&create, None).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(pool.spec().unwrap().status.created());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/snapshot/fs_cons_snapshot.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/snapshot/fs_cons_snapshot.rs
index f3a56552c..c48e957bb 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/snapshot/fs_cons_snapshot.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/snapshot/fs_cons_snapshot.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ struct DeviceDisconnect(nvmeadm::NvmeTarget);
 impl Drop for DeviceDisconnect {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         if self.0.disconnect().is_err() {
-            std::process::Command::new("sudo")
+            std::process::Command::new(env!("SUDO"))
                 .args(["nvme", "disconnect-all"])
                 .status()
                 .unwrap();
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/volume/capacity.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/volume/capacity.rs
index fe0dead3c..375bb22a1 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/volume/capacity.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/bin/core/tests/volume/capacity.rs
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ struct DeviceDisconnect(nvmeadm::NvmeTarget);
 impl Drop for DeviceDisconnect {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         if self.0.disconnect().is_err() {
-            std::process::Command::new("sudo")
+            std::process::Command::new(env!("SUDO"))
                 .args(["nvme", "disconnect-all"])
                 .status()
                 .unwrap();
diff --git a/control-plane/agents/src/common/errors.rs b/control-plane/agents/src/common/errors.rs
index 7d5001cc1..89d31c0b0 100644
--- a/control-plane/agents/src/common/errors.rs
+++ b/control-plane/agents/src/common/errors.rs
@@ -1124,7 +1124,7 @@ fn grpc_to_reply_error(error: SvcError) -> ReplyError {
         } => {
             let kind = match source.code() {
                 Code::Ok => ReplyErrorKind::Internal,
-                Code::Cancelled => ReplyErrorKind::Internal,
+                Code::Cancelled => ReplyErrorKind::Cancelled,
                 Code::Unknown => ReplyErrorKind::Internal,
                 Code::InvalidArgument => ReplyErrorKind::InvalidArgument,
                 Code::DeadlineExceeded => ReplyErrorKind::DeadlineExceeded,
diff --git a/control-plane/grpc/proto/v1/misc/common.proto b/control-plane/grpc/proto/v1/misc/common.proto
index 403f3805e..c4569eaa1 100644
--- a/control-plane/grpc/proto/v1/misc/common.proto
+++ b/control-plane/grpc/proto/v1/misc/common.proto
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ enum ReplyErrorKind {
   InUse = 29;
   CapacityLimitExceeded = 30;
   NotAcceptable = 31;
+  Cancelled = 32;
 }
 
 // ResourceKind for the resource which has undergone this error
diff --git a/control-plane/grpc/src/misc/traits.rs b/control-plane/grpc/src/misc/traits.rs
index 5ff69c1b8..8f6cc1480 100644
--- a/control-plane/grpc/src/misc/traits.rs
+++ b/control-plane/grpc/src/misc/traits.rs
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ impl From<ReplyErrorKind> for common::ReplyErrorKind {
             ReplyErrorKind::InUse => Self::InUse,
             ReplyErrorKind::CapacityLimitExceeded => Self::CapacityLimitExceeded,
             ReplyErrorKind::NotAcceptable => Self::NotAcceptable,
+            ReplyErrorKind::Cancelled => Self::Cancelled,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ impl From<common::ReplyErrorKind> for ReplyErrorKind {
             common::ReplyErrorKind::InUse => Self::InUse,
             common::ReplyErrorKind::CapacityLimitExceeded => Self::CapacityLimitExceeded,
             common::ReplyErrorKind::NotAcceptable => Self::NotAcceptable,
+            common::ReplyErrorKind::Cancelled => Self::Cancelled,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/control-plane/grpc/src/operations/pool/traits.rs b/control-plane/grpc/src/operations/pool/traits.rs
index 1c0c653c3..ff2258f25 100644
--- a/control-plane/grpc/src/operations/pool/traits.rs
+++ b/control-plane/grpc/src/operations/pool/traits.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ impl TryFrom<pool::PoolDefinition> for PoolSpec {
             },
             sequencer: Default::default(),
             operation: None,
+            creat_tsc: None,
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/control-plane/rest/openapi-specs/v0_api_spec.yaml b/control-plane/rest/openapi-specs/v0_api_spec.yaml
index a0a516470..c961df596 100644
--- a/control-plane/rest/openapi-specs/v0_api_spec.yaml
+++ b/control-plane/rest/openapi-specs/v0_api_spec.yaml
@@ -3268,6 +3268,7 @@ components:
             - InUse
             - CapacityLimitExceeded
             - NotAcceptable
+            - Cancelled
       required:
         - details
         - kind
diff --git a/control-plane/stor-port/src/transport_api/mod.rs b/control-plane/stor-port/src/transport_api/mod.rs
index d87df6c2f..c59a66cb8 100644
--- a/control-plane/stor-port/src/transport_api/mod.rs
+++ b/control-plane/stor-port/src/transport_api/mod.rs
@@ -444,11 +444,14 @@ pub enum ReplyErrorKind {
     InUse,
     CapacityLimitExceeded,
     NotAcceptable,
+    Cancelled,
 }
 
 impl From<tonic::Code> for ReplyErrorKind {
     fn from(code: tonic::Code) -> Self {
         match code {
+            Code::Ok => Self::Internal,
+            Code::Unknown => Self::Internal,
             Code::InvalidArgument => Self::InvalidArgument,
             Code::DeadlineExceeded => Self::DeadlineExceeded,
             Code::NotFound => Self::NotFound,
@@ -463,7 +466,7 @@ impl From<tonic::Code> for ReplyErrorKind {
             Code::Unavailable => Self::Unavailable,
             Code::DataLoss => Self::FailedPersist,
             Code::Unauthenticated => Self::Unauthenticated,
-            _ => Self::Aborted,
+            Code::Cancelled => Self::Cancelled,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/mod.rs b/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/mod.rs
index 56cb8a917..1b2c347de 100644
--- a/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/mod.rs
+++ b/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/mod.rs
@@ -142,6 +142,10 @@ impl From<ReplyError> for RestError<RestJsonError> {
                 let error = RestJsonError::new(details, message, Kind::NotAcceptable);
                 (StatusCode::NOT_ACCEPTABLE, error)
             }
+            ReplyErrorKind::Cancelled => {
+                let error = RestJsonError::new(details, message, Kind::Cancelled);
+                (StatusCode::GATEWAY_TIMEOUT, error)
+            }
         };
 
         RestError::new(status, error)
diff --git a/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/store/pool.rs b/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/store/pool.rs
index f6a344051..b4fc9a3f9 100644
--- a/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/store/pool.rs
+++ b/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/store/pool.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ impl From<&CreatePool> for PoolSpec {
             labels: request.labels.clone(),
             sequencer: OperationSequence::new(),
             operation: None,
+            creat_tsc: None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+impl From<&PoolSpec> for CreatePool {
+    fn from(pool: &PoolSpec) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            node: pool.node.clone(),
+            id: pool.id.clone(),
+            disks: pool.disks.clone(),
+            labels: pool.labels.clone(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -61,6 +72,7 @@ impl PartialEq<CreatePool> for PoolSpec {
         let mut other = PoolSpec::from(other);
         other.status = self.status.clone();
         other.sequencer = self.sequencer.clone();
+        other.creat_tsc = self.creat_tsc;
         &other == self
     }
 }
@@ -83,6 +95,9 @@ pub struct PoolSpec {
     pub sequencer: OperationSequence,
     /// Record of the operation in progress
     pub operation: Option<PoolOperationState>,
+    /// Last modification timestamp.
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub creat_tsc: Option<std::time::SystemTime>,
 }
 
 impl PoolSpec {
@@ -206,6 +221,9 @@ impl SpecTransaction<PoolOperation> for PoolSpec {
     }
 
     fn start_op(&mut self, operation: PoolOperation) {
+        if matches!(operation, PoolOperation::Create) && self.creat_tsc.is_none() {
+            self.creat_tsc = Some(std::time::SystemTime::now());
+        }
         self.operation = Some(PoolOperationState {
             operation,
             result: None,
diff --git a/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/transport/pool.rs b/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/transport/pool.rs
index be5d211c9..3567cc653 100644
--- a/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/transport/pool.rs
+++ b/control-plane/stor-port/src/types/v0/transport/pool.rs
@@ -346,6 +346,11 @@ impl DestroyPool {
         Self { node, id }
     }
 }
+impl From<CreatePool> for DestroyPool {
+    fn from(value: CreatePool) -> Self {
+        Self::new(value.node, value.id)
+    }
+}
 
 /// Label Pool Request.
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Default, Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq)]
diff --git a/deployer/src/infra/io_engine.rs b/deployer/src/infra/io_engine.rs
index 4e6d145c5..544bed9bf 100644
--- a/deployer/src/infra/io_engine.rs
+++ b/deployer/src/infra/io_engine.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use utils::DEFAULT_GRPC_CLIENT_ADDR;
 impl ComponentAction for IoEngine {
     fn configure(&self, options: &StartOptions, cfg: Builder) -> Result<Builder, Error> {
         let mut cfg = cfg;
+        let host_tmp = crate::host_tmp()?;
         for i in 0 .. options.io_engines + options.idle_io_engines {
             let io_engine_socket =
                 format!("{}:10124", cfg.next_ip_for_name(&Self::name(i, options))?);
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ impl ComponentAction for IoEngine {
             .with_env("NEXUS_NVMF_ANA_ENABLE", "1")
             .with_env("NVMF_TGT_CRDT", "0")
             .with_env("ENABLE_SNAPSHOT_REBUILD", "true")
-            .with_bind("/tmp", "/host/tmp")
+            .with_bind(&host_tmp, "/host/tmp")
             .with_bind("/var/run/dpdk", "/var/run/dpdk");
 
             let core_list = match options.io_engine_isolate {
diff --git a/deployer/src/lib.rs b/deployer/src/lib.rs
index 5b7740375..ba6ea0f73 100644
--- a/deployer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deployer/src/lib.rs
@@ -786,3 +786,12 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for ClusterLabel {
         write!(f, "{self}")
     }
 }
+
+/// Get the host tmp folder for this workspace.
+pub fn host_tmp() -> Result<String, std::io::Error> {
+    let root_tmp = format!("{root}/.tmp", root = env!("WORKSPACE_ROOT"));
+    if !std::path::Path::new(&root_tmp).exists() {
+        std::fs::create_dir(&root_tmp)?;
+    }
+    Ok(root_tmp)
+}
diff --git a/scripts/rust/deployer-cleanup.sh b/scripts/rust/deployer-cleanup.sh
index 4367ad6e8..983a42fc4 100755
--- a/scripts/rust/deployer-cleanup.sh
+++ b/scripts/rust/deployer-cleanup.sh
@@ -2,8 +2,26 @@
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(dirname "$0")"
 export ROOT_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/../.."
+SUDO=$(which sudo)
 
-sudo nvme disconnect-all
+cleanup_ws_tmp() {
+  # This contains tmp for container artifacts, example: pool disk images
+  tmp_dir="$(realpath "$ROOT_DIR/.tmp")"
+
+  devices=$(losetup -l -J | jq -r --arg tmp_dir=$tmp_dir '.loopdevices[]|select(."back-file" | startswith($tmp_dir))')
+  for device in $(echo $devices | jq -r '.loopdevices[].name'); do
+    echo "Found stale loop device: $device"
+
+    $SUDO $(which vgremove) -y --select="pv_name=$device" || :
+    $SUDO losetup -d "$device"
+  done
+
+  $SUDO rm -rf "$tmp_dir"
+
+  return 0
+}
+
+$SUDO nvme disconnect-all
 "$ROOT_DIR"/target/debug/deployer stop
 
 for c in $(docker ps -a --filter "label=io.composer.test.name" --format '{{.ID}}') ; do
@@ -12,7 +30,7 @@ for c in $(docker ps -a --filter "label=io.composer.test.name" --format '{{.ID}}
 done
 
 for n in $(docker network ls --filter "label=io.composer.test.name" --format '{{.ID}}') ; do
-  docker network rm "$n" || ( sudo systemctl restart docker && docker network rm "$n" )
+  docker network rm "$n" || ( $SUDO systemctl restart docker && docker network rm "$n" )
 done
 
-exit 0
\ No newline at end of file
+cleanup_ws_tmp
diff --git a/shell.nix b/shell.nix
index 40ba42da3..021273ef7 100644
--- a/shell.nix
+++ b/shell.nix
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ mkShell {
     pytest_inputs
     tini
     udev
+    lvm2
   ] ++ pkgs.lib.optional (system == "aarch64-darwin") darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.Security;
 
   LIBCLANG_PATH = "${llvmPackages.libclang.lib}/lib";
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ mkShell {
     [ ! -z "${io-engine}" ] && cowsay "${io-engine-moth}"
     [ ! -z "${io-engine}" ] && export IO_ENGINE_BIN="${io-engine-moth}"
     export PATH="$PATH:$(pwd)/target/debug"
+    export SUDO=$(which sudo || echo /run/wrappers/bin/sudo)
 
     DOCKER_CONFIG=~/.docker/config.json
     if [ -f "$DOCKER_CONFIG" ]; then
diff --git a/terraform/cluster/mod/k8s/repo.sh b/terraform/cluster/mod/k8s/repo.sh
index a561ec7d5..12044c52c 100644
--- a/terraform/cluster/mod/k8s/repo.sh
+++ b/terraform/cluster/mod/k8s/repo.sh
@@ -45,10 +45,13 @@ fi
 
 sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings/
 KUBE_APT_V=$(echo "${kube_version}" | awk -F. '{ sub(/-.*/, ""); print "v" $1 "." $2 }')
-curl -fsSL https://pkgs.k8s.io/core:/stable:/$KUBE_APT_V/deb/Release.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg
-cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
+[ -f /etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg ] && sudo rm /etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg
+curl -fsSL https://pkgs.k8s.io/core:/stable:/v1.31/deb/Release.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg
+if ! grep "kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg" /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list; then
+  cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
 deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg] https://pkgs.k8s.io/core:/stable:/$KUBE_APT_V/deb/ /
 EOF
+fi
 
 sudo apt-get update
 
diff --git a/tests/bdd/common/deployer.py b/tests/bdd/common/deployer.py
index 8a891d13a..5b745f14c 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/common/deployer.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/common/deployer.py
@@ -196,18 +196,21 @@ def node_name(id: int):
 
     @staticmethod
     def create_disks(len=1, size=100 * 1024 * 1024):
-        disks = list(map(lambda x: f"/tmp/disk_{x}.img", range(1, len + 1)))
+        host_tmp = workspace_tmp()
+        disks = list(map(lambda x: f"disk_{x}.img", range(1, len + 1)))
         for disk in disks:
+            disk = f"{host_tmp}/{disk}"
             if os.path.exists(disk):
                 os.remove(disk)
             with open(disk, "w") as file:
                 file.truncate(size)
         # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-        return list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", disks))
+        return list(map(lambda file: f"/host/tmp/{file}", disks))
 
     @staticmethod
     def delete_disks(len=1):
-        disks = list(map(lambda x: f"/tmp/disk_{x}.img", range(1, len + 1)))
+        host_tmp = workspace_tmp()
+        disks = list(map(lambda x: f"{host_tmp}/disk_{x}.img", range(1, len + 1)))
         for disk in disks:
             if os.path.exists(disk):
                 os.remove(disk)
@@ -224,3 +227,10 @@ def cache_period():
     @staticmethod
     def restart_node(node_name):
         Docker.restart_container(node_name)
+
+
+def workspace_tmp():
+    root = os.getenv("WORKSPACE_ROOT")
+    path = f"{root}/.tmp"
+    os.makedirs(path, exist_ok=True)
+    return path
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/capacity/thin/volume/test_create.py b/tests/bdd/features/capacity/thin/volume/test_create.py
index e63b780b1..4d8b7a5fd 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/capacity/thin/volume/test_create.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/capacity/thin/volume/test_create.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def init(disks):
     Deployer.start(1)
+    Deployer.create_disks(1, POOL_SIZE)
     ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
         NODE_NAME, POOL_UUID, CreatePoolBody([f"{disks[0]}"])
     )
@@ -48,26 +49,9 @@ def init(disks):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(POOL_SIZE)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    yield Deployer.create_disks(1, size=POOL_SIZE)
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(1)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/cordon/node/test_cordon_node.py b/tests/bdd/features/cordon/node/test_cordon_node.py
index e1bce0c72..b91b64743 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/cordon/node/test_cordon_node.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/cordon/node/test_cordon_node.py
@@ -58,14 +58,6 @@ def init_scenario(init, disks):
     remove_all_cordons(NODE_NAME_2)
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
 def disks():
     yield Deployer.create_disks(2, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/garbage-collection/replicas/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/garbage-collection/replicas/test_feature.py
index 700f9ac6e..37f29c982 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/garbage-collection/replicas/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/garbage-collection/replicas/test_feature.py
@@ -29,26 +29,15 @@
 IO_ENGINE_1 = "io-engine-1"
 IO_ENGINE_2 = "io-engine-2"
 
-POOL_DISK1 = "pdisk1.img"
 POOL1_UUID = "4cc6ee64-7232-497d-a26f-38284a444980"
-POOL_DISK2 = "pdisk2.img"
 POOL2_UUID = "4cc6ee64-7232-497d-a26f-38284a444990"
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
 def create_pool_disk_images():
-    # When starting Io-Engine instances with the deployer a bind mount is created from /tmp to
-    # /host/tmp, so create disk images in /tmp
-    for disk in [POOL_DISK1, POOL_DISK2]:
-        path = "/tmp/{}".format(disk)
-        with open(path, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(20 * 1024 * 1024)
-
-    yield
-    for disk in [POOL_DISK1, POOL_DISK2]:
-        path = "/tmp/{}".format(disk)
-        if os.path.exists(path):
-            os.remove(path)
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(2, size=20 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 # This fixture will be automatically used by all tests.
@@ -63,12 +52,12 @@ def init(create_pool_disk_images):
     ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
         IO_ENGINE_1,
         POOL1_UUID,
-        CreatePoolBody(["aio:///host/tmp/{}".format(POOL_DISK1)]),
+        CreatePoolBody(["aio://{}".format(create_pool_disk_images[0])]),
     )
     ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
         IO_ENGINE_2,
         POOL2_UUID,
-        CreatePoolBody(["aio:///host/tmp/{}".format(POOL_DISK2)]),
+        CreatePoolBody(["aio://{}".format(create_pool_disk_images[1])]),
     )
 
     # Create and publish a volume on node 1
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/ha/core-agent/test_target_switchover.py b/tests/bdd/features/ha/core-agent/test_target_switchover.py
index 994522a68..ceff7c943 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/ha/core-agent/test_target_switchover.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/ha/core-agent/test_target_switchover.py
@@ -41,25 +41,9 @@
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, 2):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    yield Deployer.create_disks(2, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(2)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/ha/test_robustness.py b/tests/bdd/features/ha/test_robustness.py
index 46f5d3ac1..48b59da2c 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/ha/test_robustness.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/ha/test_robustness.py
@@ -240,25 +240,10 @@ def the_volume_target_node_has_iopath_fixed():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, 2):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(POOL_SIZE)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(2, size=POOL_SIZE)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/pool/create/test_disks.py b/tests/bdd/features/pool/create/test_disks.py
index 796237bbf..212c66ceb 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/pool/create/test_disks.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/pool/create/test_disks.py
@@ -117,25 +117,10 @@ def pool_attempt(context):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, POOL_DISK_COUNT + 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(POOL_DISK_COUNT, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/pool/delete/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/pool/delete/test_feature.py
index a1974f187..f2aa87f0f 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/pool/delete/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/pool/delete/test_feature.py
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ def the_pool_should_be_deleted(pool, attempt_delete_the_pool):
 
 """" Implementations """
 
-POOLS_PER_NODE = 2
 VOLUME_UUID = "5cd5378e-3f05-47f1-a830-a0f5873a1449"
 VOLUME_SIZE = 10485761
 
@@ -161,32 +160,10 @@ def nodes():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files(nodes):
-    files = []
-    for node in range(len(nodes)):
-        node_files = []
-        for disk in range(0, POOLS_PER_NODE + 1):
-            node_files.append(f"/tmp/node-{node}-disk_{disk}")
-        files.append(node_files)
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def node_disks(tmp_files):
-    for node_disks in tmp_files:
-        for disk in node_disks:
-            if os.path.exists(disk):
-                os.remove(disk)
-            with open(disk, "w") as file:
-                file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda arr: list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", arr)), tmp_files))
-
-    for node_disks in tmp_files:
-        for disk in node_disks:
-            if os.path.exists(disk):
-                os.remove(disk)
+def node_disks(nodes):
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(1, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -202,9 +179,8 @@ def pool(node_disks, nodes):
     assert len(nodes) > 0
     assert len(node_disks) > 0
     node = nodes[0]
-    disks = node_disks[0]
     pool = ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
-        node.id, f"{node.id}-pool", CreatePoolBody([disks[0]])
+        node.id, f"{node.id}-pool", CreatePoolBody([node_disks[0]])
     )
     yield pool
 
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/pool/reconcile/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/pool/reconcile/test_feature.py
index edbd22ea4..a9a02fb16 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/pool/reconcile/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/pool/reconcile/test_feature.py
@@ -78,8 +78,6 @@ def the_pool_should_eventually_be_imported(pool):
 
 """" Implementations """
 
-POOLS_PER_NODE = 2
-
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
 def background():
@@ -94,32 +92,10 @@ def nodes():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files(nodes):
-    files = []
-    for node in range(len(nodes)):
-        node_files = []
-        for disk in range(0, POOLS_PER_NODE + 1):
-            node_files.append(f"/tmp/node-{node}-disk_{disk}")
-        files.append(node_files)
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def node_disks(tmp_files):
-    for node_disks in tmp_files:
-        for disk in node_disks:
-            if os.path.exists(disk):
-                os.remove(disk)
-            with open(disk, "w") as file:
-                file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda arr: list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", arr)), tmp_files))
-
-    for node_disks in tmp_files:
-        for disk in node_disks:
-            if os.path.exists(disk):
-                os.remove(disk)
+def node_disks(nodes):
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(1, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -135,9 +111,8 @@ def pool(node_disks, nodes):
     assert len(nodes) > 0
     assert len(node_disks) > 0
     node = nodes[0]
-    disks = node_disks[0]
     pool = ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
-        node.id, f"{node.id}-pool", CreatePoolBody([disks[0]])
+        node.id, f"{node.id}-pool", CreatePoolBody([node_disks[0]])
     )
     yield pool
 
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_log_based_rebuild.py b/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_log_based_rebuild.py
index 68b5ceb3c..e79dfe264 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_log_based_rebuild.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_log_based_rebuild.py
@@ -85,27 +85,10 @@ def init_scenario(init, disks):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for itr in range(NUM_VOLUME_REPLICAS + 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/node-{itr + 1}-disk")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(POOL_SIZE)
-
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(NUM_VOLUME_REPLICAS + 1, size=POOL_SIZE)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @scenario(
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_rebuild.py b/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_rebuild.py
index e1d61e0ae..f5abd3c17 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_rebuild.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/rebuild/test_rebuild.py
@@ -43,25 +43,10 @@
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, POOL_DISK_COUNT):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(POOL_DISK_COUNT, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/create/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/create/test_feature.py
index ce2069481..67a1df1b5 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/create/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/create/test_feature.py
@@ -35,26 +35,10 @@
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(2):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(POOL_SIZE)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(2, size=POOL_SIZE)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/garbage_collection/test_garbage_collection.py b/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/garbage_collection/test_garbage_collection.py
index a10d20a6e..23e1503ba 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/garbage_collection/test_garbage_collection.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/garbage_collection/test_garbage_collection.py
@@ -40,15 +40,9 @@ def test_garbage_collection_for_stuck_creating_snapshots_when_source_is_deleted(
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
 def create_pool_disk_images():
-    # Create the file.
-    path = "/tmp/{}".format(POOL_DISK1)
-    with open(path, "w") as file:
-        file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-
-    yield
-    # Clear the file
-    if os.path.exists(path):
-        os.remove(path)
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(1, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
@@ -64,7 +58,7 @@ def setup(create_pool_disk_images):
     ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
         NODE1,
         POOL1_NAME,
-        CreatePoolBody(["aio:///host/tmp/{}".format(POOL_DISK1)]),
+        CreatePoolBody(["aio://{}".format(create_pool_disk_images[0])]),
     )
     pytest.exception = None
     yield
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/list/test_list.py b/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/list/test_list.py
index 74b78a216..f7bb39278 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/list/test_list.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/snapshot/list/test_list.py
@@ -77,15 +77,9 @@ def test_volume_snapshots_list_involving_disrupted_node():
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
 def create_pool_disk_images():
-    # Create the file.
-    path = "/tmp/{}".format(POOL_DISK1)
-    with open(path, "w") as file:
-        file.truncate(800 * 1024 * 1024)
-
-    yield
-    # Clear the file
-    if os.path.exists(path):
-        os.remove(path)
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(1, size=800 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
@@ -98,7 +92,7 @@ def setup(create_pool_disk_images):
     ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
         NODE1,
         POOL1_NAME,
-        CreatePoolBody(["aio:///host/tmp/{}".format(POOL_DISK1)]),
+        CreatePoolBody(["aio://{}".format(create_pool_disk_images[0])]),
     )
     pytest.exception = None
     yield
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/volume/create/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/volume/create/test_feature.py
index 491e70a3c..d72962dfd 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/volume/create/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/volume/create/test_feature.py
@@ -59,26 +59,10 @@ def init_scenario(init, disks):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(1, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 # Fixture used to pass the volume create request between test steps.
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/volume/nexus/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/volume/nexus/test_feature.py
index d70c7c7a1..54635452c 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/volume/nexus/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/volume/nexus/test_feature.py
@@ -98,26 +98,14 @@ def the_nexus_target_shall_be_removed_from_its_associated_node():
 IO_ENGINE_1 = "io-engine-1"
 IO_ENGINE_2 = "io-engine-2"
 
-POOL_DISK1 = "cdisk1.img"
-POOL1_UUID = "4cc6ee64-7232-497d-a26f-38284a444980"
-POOL_DISK2 = "cdisk2.img"
-POOL2_UUID = "4cc6ee64-7232-497d-a26f-38284a444990"
+POOL_UUID = "4cc6ee64-7232-497d-a26f-38284a444990"
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
 def create_pool_disk_images():
-    # When starting Io-Engine instances with the deployer a bind mount is created from /tmp to
-    # /host/tmp, so create disk images in /tmp
-    for disk in [POOL_DISK1, POOL_DISK2]:
-        path = f"/tmp/{disk}"
-        with open(path, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(20 * 1024 * 1024)
-
-    yield
-    for disk in [POOL_DISK1, POOL_DISK2]:
-        path = f"/tmp/{disk}"
-        if os.path.exists(path):
-            os.remove(path)
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(1, size=20 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
@@ -128,8 +116,8 @@ def init(create_pool_disk_images):
     # Create pools
     ApiClient.pools_api().put_node_pool(
         IO_ENGINE_2,
-        POOL2_UUID,
-        CreatePoolBody([f"aio:///host/tmp/{POOL_DISK2}"], labels={"node": IO_ENGINE_2}),
+        POOL_UUID,
+        CreatePoolBody([create_pool_disk_images[0]], labels={"node": IO_ENGINE_2}),
     )
 
     yield
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/volume/replicas/test_feature.py b/tests/bdd/features/volume/replicas/test_feature.py
index 9676bce9c..75668025d 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/volume/replicas/test_feature.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/volume/replicas/test_feature.py
@@ -51,25 +51,10 @@ def background():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for index in range(0, NUM_IO_ENGINES):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/disk_{index}")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(100 * 1024 * 1024)
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(NUM_IO_ENGINES, size=100 * 1024 * 1024)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_offline.py b/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_offline.py
index 4424b696b..67ee007d8 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_offline.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_offline.py
@@ -192,27 +192,10 @@ def a_deployer_cluster():
 
 # Fixtures - BEGIN
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for itr in range(DEFAULT_REPLICA_CNT + 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/node-{itr + 1}-disk")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE)
-
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(DEFAULT_REPLICA_CNT + 1, size=DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 # Fixtures - END
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_online.py b/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_online.py
index 224744701..29144f193 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_online.py
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/volume/resize/test_resize_online.py
@@ -62,27 +62,10 @@
 
 # fixtures - BEGIN
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def tmp_files():
-    files = []
-    for itr in range(DEFAULT_REPLICA_CNT + 1):
-        files.append(f"/tmp/node-{itr + 1}-disk")
-    yield files
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def disks(tmp_files):
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
-        with open(disk, "w") as file:
-            file.truncate(DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE)
-
-    # /tmp is mapped into /host/tmp within the io-engine containers
-    yield list(map(lambda file: f"/host{file}", tmp_files))
-
-    for disk in tmp_files:
-        if os.path.exists(disk):
-            os.remove(disk)
+def disks():
+    pools = Deployer.create_disks(DEFAULT_REPLICA_CNT + 1, size=DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE)
+    yield pools
+    Deployer.cleanup_disks(len(pools))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope="module")
diff --git a/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lib.rs b/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lib.rs
index 99f6885d1..fd6fdfa6f 100644
--- a/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lib.rs
+++ b/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+pub mod lvm;
 pub mod rest_client;
 
 use composer::{Builder, ComposeTest};
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ impl Cluster {
             Some(opts) => opts,
             None => TimeoutOptions::new()
                 .with_req_timeout(Duration::from_millis(500))
-                .with_max_retries(10),
+                .with_max_retries(20),
         };
         for x in 1 .. timeout_opts.max_retries().unwrap_or_default() {
             match client
@@ -629,6 +630,10 @@ impl TmpDiskFile {
     pub fn uri(&self) -> &str {
         self.inner.uri()
     }
+    /// Disk path on the host.
+    pub fn path(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.inner.path
+    }
 
     /// Get the inner disk if there are no other references to it.
     pub fn into_inner(self) -> Result<TmpDiskFileInner, Arc<TmpDiskFileInner>> {
@@ -643,16 +648,19 @@ impl TmpDiskFileInner {
         disk
     }
     fn make_new(name: &str) -> Self {
-        let path = Self::make_path(name);
+        let (path, container) = Self::make_path(name);
+        let pool_id = PoolId::new();
         Self {
-            // the io-engine is setup with a bind mount from /tmp to /host/tmp
-            uri: format!("aio:///host{}?blk_size=512&uuid={}", path, PoolId::new()),
+            // the io-engine is setup with a bind mount from /workspace/tmp to /host/tmp
+            uri: format!("aio://{container}?blk_size=512&uuid={pool_id}"),
             path,
             cleanup: true,
         }
     }
-    fn make_path(name: &str) -> String {
-        format!("/tmp/io-engine-disk-{name}")
+    fn make_path(name: &str) -> (String, String) {
+        let file = format!("io-engine-disk-{name}");
+        let host_tmp = deployer_lib::host_tmp().expect("workspace error");
+        (format!("{host_tmp}/{file}"), format!("/host/tmp/{file}"))
     }
     fn uri(&self) -> &str {
         &self.uri
diff --git a/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lvm.rs b/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lvm.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a944da7c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/deployer-cluster/src/lvm.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+//! LVM helper methods which are useful for setting up test block devices.
+
+use crate::TmpDiskFile;
+
+/// An LVM Logical Volume.
+pub struct Lvol {
+    name: String,
+    path: String,
+}
+impl Lvol {
+    /// Get the host path for the lvol.
+    pub fn path(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.path
+    }
+    /// Suspends the device for IO.
+    pub fn suspend(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let _ = VolGroup::command(&["dmsetup", "suspend", self.path.as_str()])?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    /// Resumes the device for IO.
+    pub fn resume(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let _ = VolGroup::command(&["dmsetup", "resume", self.path.as_str()])?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+impl Drop for Lvol {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        println!("Dropping Lvol {}", self.name);
+        self.resume().ok();
+    }
+}
+
+/// An LVM Volume Group.
+pub struct VolGroup {
+    backing_file: TmpDiskFile,
+    dev_loop: String,
+    name: String,
+}
+
+impl VolGroup {
+    /// Creates a new LVM Volume Group.
+    pub fn new(name: &str, size: u64) -> Result<Self, anyhow::Error> {
+        let backing_file = TmpDiskFile::new(name, size);
+
+        let dev_loop = Self::command(&["losetup", "--show", "-f", backing_file.path()])?;
+        let dev_loop = dev_loop.trim_end().to_string();
+        let _ = Self::command(&["pvcreate", dev_loop.as_str()])?;
+        let _ = Self::command(&["vgcreate", name, dev_loop.as_str()])?;
+
+        Ok(Self {
+            backing_file,
+            dev_loop,
+            name: name.to_string(),
+        })
+    }
+    /// Creates a new Lvol for the LVM Volume Group.
+    pub fn create_lvol(&self, name: &str, size: u64) -> Result<Lvol, anyhow::Error> {
+        let size = format!("{size}B");
+
+        let vg_name = self.name.as_str();
+        let _ = Self::command(&["lvcreate", "-L", size.as_str(), "-n", name, vg_name])?;
+
+        Ok(Lvol {
+            name: name.to_string(),
+            path: format!("/dev/{vg_name}/{name}"),
+        })
+    }
+    /// Run a command with sudo, and the given args.
+    /// The output string is returned.
+    fn command(args: &[&str]) -> Result<String, anyhow::Error> {
+        let cmd = args.first().unwrap();
+        let output = std::process::Command::new(env!("SUDO"))
+            .arg("-E")
+            .args(args)
+            .output()?;
+        if !output.status.success() {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "{cmd} Exit Code: {}\nstdout: {}, stderr: {}",
+                output.status,
+                String::from_utf8(output.stdout).unwrap_or_default(),
+                String::from_utf8(output.stderr).unwrap_or_default()
+            ));
+        }
+        let output = String::from_utf8(output.stdout)?;
+        Ok(output)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for VolGroup {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        println!(
+            "Dropping VolGroup {} <== {}",
+            self.name,
+            self.backing_file.path()
+        );
+
+        let _ = Self::command(&["vgremove", "-y", self.name.as_str()]);
+        let _ = Self::command(&["losetup", "-d", self.dev_loop.as_str()]);
+    }
+}