System and method for storing redundant information

One or more tangible computer-readable storage media storing instructions that when executed by a computer system restores data from a copy of the data, comprising:

• for each data object in a received data storage request:
• determining whether data at an original location within a hierarchy specified by the request contains—
• the data object itself or
• a reference to a data object and the data object is stored elsewhere;
• wherein the request contains a digest value for identifying each data object, and
• wherein the determining comprises comparing the digest value to an index of digest values of data objects stored within the computer system;
• when the original location within the hierarchy specified by the request contains a reference to a data object,
• then resolving the reference to find the data object and copying the data object to a destination location;
• and
• when the original location within the hierarchy specified by the request contains the data object itself,
• then copying the data object to a destination location.

A system for improving the retrieval of a data object in a network environment that contains multiple instances of the data object, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory, coupled to the processor;
• means, coupled among the at least one processor and memory, for selecting an instance of a data object from among a determined at least one alternative location to use to satisfy a request to access a copy of the data object;
• and
• means, coupled among the at least one processor and memory, for sending the selected instance of the data object in response to the request,
• wherein, coupled among the at least one processor and memory, the request contains a digest value for identifying the data object, and
• wherein, coupled among the at least one processor and memory, determining the at least one alternative location of an instance of the requested data object comprises comparing the digest value to an index of digest values of data objects stored within the network environment.