초록 ▼

Representing a number of assets on an originating computer begins with selecting the assets to be represented. Cryptographic hash asset identifiers are generated; each of the asset identifiers is computed using the contents of a particular asset. The asset identifier is a content-based or content-ad

Representing a number of assets on an originating computer begins with selecting the assets to be represented. Cryptographic hash asset identifiers are generated; each of the asset identifiers is computed using the contents of a particular asset. The asset identifier is a content-based or content-addressable asset name for the asset and is location independent. An asset list is generated that includes the asset identifiers computed from the assets. A cryptographic hash asset list identifier is generated that is computed from the asset list. The asset list identifier is stored for later retrieval. The amen selected are also stored for safekeeping either locally or on a computer network. In the event of loss of the files from the originating computer, the asset list identifier is retrieved. Using the asset list identifier, the original asset list is found and retrieved from its safe location.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for use in a computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the method comprising acts of: (A) receiving, at the first computer, a request from the second computer to access a fir

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for use in a computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the method comprising acts of: (A) receiving, at the first computer, a request from the second computer to access a first portion of a unit of data, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, wherein the identifier is the only identifier the second computer can use to identify the unit of data in the request to the first computer; and (B) using the identifier to locate at least a second portion of the unit of data stored by the first computer. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request identifies the second computer as having issued the request, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: (C) returning the at least a second portion of the unit of data to the second computer. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit of data comprises at least one digital asset. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is generated by applying a cryptographic hash function to at least a portion of the content of the unit of data. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises one or more individual segments of the unit of data that collectively comprise less than the entire unit of data so that the act (A) comprises an act of receiving a request to access the one or more individual segments of the unit of data; and wherein the second portion is the same as the first portion so that the act (C) comprises an act of returning the one or more individual segments of the entire unit of data. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the individual segments comprise specific entries for a database or a code patch for a software application. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises the entire unit of data so that the act (A) comprises an act of receiving a request to access the entire unit of data. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data so that the act (A) comprises an act of receiving a request to access less than the entire unit of data. 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises the entire unit of data so that the act (A) comprises an act of receiving a request to access the entire unit of data; and wherein the second portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data so that the act (C) comprises returning less than the entire unit of data. 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the unit of data is the same as the second portion of the unit of data. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data and wherein the second portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second portion of the unit of data is the same as the first portion of the unit of data. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer is a silo. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer is a file server. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer is a storage system. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a plurality of computers in addition to the first and second computers and wherein the plurality of computers are interconnected by at least one network, and wherein each of the plurality of computers manages storage of one or more units of data. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second computers are peer computers coupled by at least one network. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit of data is stored on the first computer. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit of data is stored by the first computer on a storage device managed by the first computer. 20. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer system, perform a method, the computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the method comprising acts of: (A) receiving, at the first computer, a request from the second computer to access a first portion of a unit of data, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, wherein the identifier is the only identifier the second computer can use to identify the unit of data in the request to the first computer; and (B) using the identifier to locate at least a second portion of the unit of data stored by the first computer. 21. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the request identifies the second computer as having issued the request, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: (C) returning the at least a second portion of the unit of data to the second computer. 22. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises one or more individual segments of the unit of data that collectively comprise less than the entire unit of data so that the act (A) comprises an act of receiving a request to access the one or more individual segments of the unit of data; and wherein the second portion is the same as the first portion so that the act (C) comprises an act of returning the one or more individual segments of the entire unit of data. 23. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data so that the act (A) comprises an act of receiving a request to access less than the entire unit of data. 24. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first portion of the unit of data is the same as the second portion of the unit of data. 25. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data and wherein the second portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data. 26. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the second portion of the unit of data is the same as the first portion of the unit of data. 27. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the first computer is a storage system. 28. A first computer for use in a computer system comprising at least the first computer and a second computer, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the first computer comprising: an input for receiving access requests; and at least one controller, coupled to the input, that; receives, via the input, a request from the second computer to access a first portion of a unit of data, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, wherein the identifier is the only identifier the second computer can use to identify the unit of data in the request to the first computer; and uses the identifier to locate at least a second portion of the unit of data stored by the first computer. 29. The first computer of claim 28, wherein the request identifies the second computer as having issued the request, and wherein the at least one controller returns the at least a second portion of the unit of data to the second computer. 30. The first computer of claim 29, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises one or more individual segments of the unit of data that collectively comprise less than the entire unit of data so that the at least one controller receives a request to access the one or more individual segments of the unit of data; and wherein the second portion is the same as the first portion so that the at least one controller returns the one or more individual segments of the entire unit of data. 31. The first computer of claim 28, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data so that the at least one controller receives a request to access less than the entire unit of data. 32. The first computer of claim 29, wherein the first portion of the unit of data is the same as the second portion of the unit of data. 33. The first computer of claim 28, wherein the first portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data and wherein the second portion of the unit of data comprises less than the entire unit of data. 34. The first computer of claim 33, wherein the second portion of the unit of data is the same as the first portion of the unit of data. 35. The first computer of claim 28, wherein the first computer is a storage system.