Patent ID: 8219534

Claim:
A system comprising: a processor operable to create a suitcase file operable to hold a plurality of files, the processor operable to compress and compact the plurality of files for inclusion in the suitcase file, wherein each of the plurality of files is compressed to increase the storage efficiency of each of the plurality of files and wherein the plurality of files are compacted as a group of files to increase storage efficiency of the group of files, wherein the processor performs deduplication to compact the plurality of files; storage operable to maintain the suitcase file, the suitcase file having a plurality of metadata for each of the plurality of files, wherein for each of the plurality of metadata of the plurality of files: a first copy of metadata is surrounded by a first commit bit and a second commit bit and a second copy of the metadata is surrounded by the second commit bit and a third commit bit, wherein if any of the first, second, and third bits surrounding the first copy and the second copy of the metadata has not been written, the metadata is not considered to be committed, wherein if all of the first, second, and third bits surrounding the first copy and the second copy of the metadata have been written, the metadata is considered to be accurately written; wherein the processor is further operable to access the plurality of files in the suitcase file using index information included in the suitcase file.