Patent ID: 6865598

Claim:
A network of computers comprising: a plurality of individual computer devices each having a non-volatile data storage device, and each of the computer devices being arranged for communicating with at least one other one of said plurality of computers; each said non-volatile data storage device being divided into a first data storage area reserved for files to be used by the at least one processor of the corresponding computer device for its normal operation and which is inaccessible to other processors outside the individual computer device except via the at least one processor of the computer entity, and a second data storage area reserved for backup storage of data included in at least one said first data storage area of at least one other said non-volatile data storage device; a data protection component for providing data protection for user data stored on each of the non volatile data storage devices by storing the user data which is resident within the said first data storage area of each non volatile data storage device, in one or a plurality of said second data storage areas of other said non volatile data storage devices.