Patent ID: 7827146

Claim:
A data storage system comprising: one or more computer systems configured to execute program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to: receive a data object for storage from a remote storage agent; assign a first identifier to the data object, wherein the first identifier specifies an endpoint container in which to store the data object; assign a second identifier to the data object, wherein the second identifier specifies a location of the data object within the endpoint container; determine whether the second identifier exceeds a predetermined value, wherein said second identifier exceeds the predetermined value at least once during execution of said instructions; in response to determining the second identifier does not exceed the predetermined value: store the data object in the endpoint container at a location identified by the second identifier; store a storage location record including the second identifier and the first identifier indicating where the data object is stored; and increment the second identifier, thereby creating a new second identifier; in response to determining the second identifier does exceed the predetermined value: reset the second identifier to an initial value, thereby creating a reset second identifier; assign the second identifier with the reset value to the data object; increment the first identifier and create a new endpoint container which is identified by the incremented first identifier; store the data object in the new endpoint container at a location identified by the reset second identifier; store a storage location record including the reset second identifier and the incremented first identifier indicating where the data object is stored; and increment the reset second identifier.