摘要 |
A method of storing an item of data is described, performed in a general purpose computer in a network, and comprises identifying available storage means in the network, gathering information concerning the availability of data storage capacity in the identified available storage means, fragmenting the item of data in accordance with a fragmentation policy and distributing resultant fragments of data, in accordance with a distribution policy, among the identified available storage means. A computer apparatus is also described, operable in a network for managing and effecting storage of an item of data in a remote storage location in said network, and comprises storage space identification means for identifying network accessible storage means in the network, storage availability information gathering means for gathering information concerning the availability of data storage capacity in the available storage means, fragmentation means for fragmenting the item of data in accordance with a fragmentation policy and distribution means for distributing resultant fragments of data, in accordance with a distribution policy, among the identified available storage means.
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