A basic framework and overview of a network-based RAID-like distributed back-up system : NetRAID

Abstract

<p>NetRAID is a framework for a simple, open, and free system to allow end-users to have the capacity to create a geographically distributed, secure, redundant system that will provide end-users with the capacity to back up important data. NetRAID is designed to be lightweight, cross-platform, low cost, extendable, and simple. As more important data becomes digitalized it is critical for even average home computer users to be able to ensure that their data is secure. Even for people with DVD burners that back up their data weekly, if the back ups and their sources are kept in the same physical location the value of the back-up is greatly diminished. NetRAID can offer a more comprehensive end-user back-up. NetRAID version 1 has some limitations with the types and speeds of networks it can run on; however, it provides a building block for the future extension to almost any sort of TCP/IP network. NetRAID also has the potential capability to use a wide variety of encryption and data verification schemes to make sure that data is secure in transmission and storage. The NetRAID virtual file system, sockets, and program core are written in Visual Basic.NET 2003, and should be portable to a wide variety of operating systems and languages in the future.</p>