A system, comprising: one or more processors (1010a-1010b); a specialized memory system, configured to persist a range of application data stored in system memory for an application program in the event of a system failure by copying the range of application data stored in the system memory to non-volatile data storage, wherein mapping information is maintained for the range of application data that links storage locations for the range of application data in the system memory to backup storage locations in the non-volatile data storage; the system memory, storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors implement a system-level component, configured to: provide an indication to the application program that the range of application data stored in the system memory can be treated as persistent; enable data backup for the range of application data stored in the system memory for the application program in the event of a system failure and update the mapping information to indicate that data backup is enabled; and upon recovery from a system failure, disable, prior to any other process, further data backup of the range of application data stored in the system memory to the non-volatile data storage and update the mapping information to indicate that data backup is disabled. one or more processors (1010a-1010b); a specialized memory system, configured to persist a range of application data stored in system memory for an application program in the event of a system failure by copying the range of application data stored in the system memory to non-volatile data storage, wherein mapping information is maintained for the range of application data that links storage locations for the range of application data in the system memory to backup storage locations in the non-volatile data storage; the system memory, storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors implement a system-level component, configured to: provide an indication to the application program that the range of application data stored in the system memory can be treated as persistent; enable data backup for the range of application data stored in the system memory for the application program in the event of a system failure and update the mapping information to indicate that data backup is enabled; and upon recovery from a system failure, disable, prior to any other process, further data backup of the range of application data stored in the system memory to the non-volatile data storage and update the mapping information to indicate that data backup is disabled. provide an indication to the application program that the range of application data stored in the system memory can be treated as persistent; enable data backup for the range of application data stored in the system memory for the application program in the event of a system failure and update the mapping information to indicate that data backup is enabled; and upon recovery from a system failure, disable, prior to any other process, further data backup of the range of application data stored in the system memory to the non-volatile data storage and update the mapping information to indicate that data backup is disabled.