Abstract: A method of configuring a programmable device may include connecting an electronic storage medium to a configuration system with user-friendly input/output capabilities to establish configuration information for the programmable device, which may have limited input/output capabilities. The configuration information may be applied to the programmable device when the electronic storage medium is connected to the programmable device. Additional programmable devices may be configured when connected to the electronic storage medium. Further embodiments of the method and apparatus to provide the programmable device configuration service are also provided.

Abstract: A data backup system may include a data backup appliance, a locator service, and a data backup client in various embodiments. A method of providing a data backup service may include a) locating a data backup device at a first device address, b) backing up one or more stored files from at least one storage device to the data backup device at the first device address, c) maintaining address information for the data backup device at a locator service device, d) retrieving address information for the data backup device from the locator service device, and e) backing up at least one portion of at least one file backed up in b) to the data backup device at the second device address. Additional embodiments of the method of providing a data backup service are also provided.