Abstract: A system for sharing block data includes a non-removable device for storing block data (e.g. a hard drive) that is networked with a plurality of computers. Each computer can initiate discovery commands and read/write commands, and transmit these commands over the network to the non-removable storage device. Computer commands are intercepted and processed by a logical algorithm program at the storage device. One function of the logical algorithm program is to instruct each computer to treat the non-removable block storage device as a removable block device. Because the computers treat the storage device as a removable block device, they relinquish control of the device (after use) to other computers on the network. The logical algorithm program also functions to allocate temporary ownership of the block storage device to one of the computers on the network and passes temporary ownership from computer to computer on the network.

Abstract: A method for storing electronic data blocks at a storage facility uses a public database and a select database. Hash for each data block is evaluated at the facility to determine whether the data block is already stored at the facility. New data blocks are assigned a new address in the select database when encrypted with a customer key. Otherwise, they are assigned a new address in the public database by default. Duplicate data blocks are assigned a previously established address for the data block in either the public or select database. All addresses are then sent to the customer location for file integrity and only the content of new data blocks need to be sent to the storage facility (i.e. no need for duplicates).

Abstract: A method for storing electronic data blocks at a storage facility uses a public database and a select database. Hash for each data block is evaluated at the facility to determine whether the data block is already stored at the facility. New data blocks are assigned a new address in the select database when encrypted with a customer key. Otherwise, they are assigned a new address in the public database by default. Duplicate data blocks are assigned a previously established address for the data block in either the public or select database. All addresses are then sent to the customer location for file integrity and only the content of new data blocks need to be sent to the storage facility (i.e. no need for duplicates).

Abstract: A system and method for storing encrypted electronic data using a transmission Control Protocol (TCP), requires leaving both the header and the first 48 bytes of the “0” data packet in the data area of the TCP format in clear text. Consequently, the data can be routed to a main address (storage facility), and then to a sub-address (storage device) for storage. A single compression/encryption operation can be accomplished, before storage, at the host (server), the network switch, or the final storage device.

Abstract: A system for sharing block data includes a non-removable device for storing block data (e.g. a hard drive) that is networked with a plurality of computers. Each computer can initiate discovery commands and read/write commands, and transmit these commands over the network to the non-removable storage device. Computer commands are intercepted and processed by a logical algorithm program at the storage device. One function of the logical algorithm program is to instruct each computer to treat the non-removable block storage device as a removable block device. Because the computers treat the storage device as a removable block device, they relinquish control of the device (after use) to other computers on the network. The logical algorithm program also functions to allocate temporary ownership of the block storage device to one of the computers on the network and passes temporary ownership from computer to computer on the network.

Abstract: A system for sharing block data includes a non-removable device for storing block data (e.g. a hard drive) that is networked with a plurality of computers. Each computer can initiate discovery commands and read/write commands, and transmit these commands over the network to the non-removable storage device. Computer commands are intercepted and processed by a logical algorithm program at the storage device. One function of the logical algorithm program is to instruct each computer to treat the non-removable block storage device as a removable block device. Because the computers treat the storage device as a removable block device, they relinquish control of the device (after use) to other computers on the network. The logical algorithm program also functions to allocate temporary ownership of the block storage device to one of the computers on the network and passes temporary ownership from computer to computer on the network.

Abstract: A system and method for storing encrypted electronic data using a transmission Control Protocol (TCP), requires leaving both the header and the first 48 bytes of the “0” data packet in the data area of the TCP format in clear text. Consequently, the data can be routed to a main address (storage facility), and then to a sub-address (storage device) for storage. A single compression/encryption operation can be accomplished, before storage, at the host (server), the network switch, or the final storage device.

Abstract: A system and method for storing electronic data in accordance with the present invention, requires receipt of the data to be stored from a back-up server. The data is then compressed, encrypted and formatted by the system to create a virtual file. An encryption key and “meta-data”, which includes information about the physical attributes of electronic data in the virtual file, are also created by the system. The virtual file, with meta-data, can then be held at a storage device without specifically formatting the virtual file for the device. The encryption key is held separately for subsequent use in file reconstruction.

Abstract: A system for sharing block data includes a non-removable device for storing block data (e.g. a hard drive) that is networked with a plurality of computers. Each computer can initiate discovery commands and read/write commands, and transmit these commands over the network to the non-removable storage device. Computer commands are intercepted and processed by a logical algorithm program at the storage device. One function of the logical algorithm program is to instruct each computer to treat the non-removable block storage device as a removable block device. Because the computers treat the storage device as a removable block device, they relinquish control of the device (after use) to other computers on the network. The logical algorithm program also functions to allocate temporary ownership of the block storage device to one of the computers on the network and passes temporary ownership from computer to computer on the network.

Abstract: A system for backing up data from a computer disk volume at very high speed by saving a logical image copy of the volume to a backup medium such as magnetic tape. This logical image copy can later be restored in its entirety to a disk volume with a different physical geometry and flaw map in a disaster recovery mode, significantly reducing the time required for such disaster recovery compared to other backup techniques. In addition, the logical image copy on the backup medium also allows selective file restore with performance comparable to that achievable using traditional file-by-file backup/restore methods. The backup process can thus run considerably faster than conventional approaches without sacrificing the restore flexibility normally associated with those approaches.