Abstract: A hive of computing engines, typically including request handlers and process handlers, is used to process information. One implementation includes a request region including multiple request handlers and multiple processing regions, each typically including multiple process handlers. Each request handler is configured to respond to a client service request of a processing job, and if identified to handle the processing job: to query one or more of the processing regions to identify and assign a particular process handler to service the processing job, and to receive a processing result from the particular process handler. Each of the process handlers is configured to respond to such a query, and if identified as the particular process handler: to service the processing job, to process the processing job, to update said identified request handler with state information pertaining to partial processing of said processing job, and to communicate the processing result to the identified request handler.

Abstract: Disclosed are mechanisms for reliably storing information across multiple computers networked together, where each of these computers may or may not be a hive node of a hive. This information includes multiple information units. At least one protection unit is generated based on the information units such that the information can be recreated using less than all of these information units and at least one protection unit. A data unit is defined as one or more information units, one or more protection units, or a combination of information and protection units, with each information unit being included in at least one of the data units and each protection unit being included in at least one of the data units. A operation is initiated to store on each of the computers at least one data unit, such that each data unit is stored in at least one of the computers.