DIBS : Distributed Backup for Local Area Networks

DIBS (Distributed Intranet Backup System) is a distributed file backup system for computers in local area networks that lack dedicated or secondary data storage. DIBS exploits the unused disk space among a set of connected machines and the high speed of local area networks to provide a transparent peer-to-peer backup solution. Each node in the DIBS system contains a module that manages its list of critical files and the files it stores for other nodes, a server that responds to requests from other nodes, and a client interface to perform backup operations. Each node is responsible for its own files, and, given adequate space on the network, will ensure the satisfaction of replication invariants. The system is designed to provide complete recovery for a crashed node, recovery from transient machine failures, protection for mistaken file overwrites and deletion, and flexibility in the face of changing network-wide storage conditions.