Storage system and method

1. A storage system comprising:

apparatus for consolidating portions of free space from a plurality of remote storage units, wherein the remote storage units are accessed over a network;

apparatus for presenting the consolidated portions as a single file system;

apparatus for discovering the portions of free space on the network; and

a metadata file for indicating files that are stored in the file system and their locations within the portions of free space.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein files stored in the file system are replicated across multiple portions of free space.

3. A storage system comprising:

apparatus for consolidating portions of free space from a plurality of remote storage units; and

apparatus for presenting the consolidated portions as a single file system,

wherein data provided to the storage system from a first remote storage unit is stored in portions of free space from remote storage units other than the first remote storage unit, and

wherein files stored in the file system are encrypted.

4. A storage system comprising:

apparatus for consolidating portions of free space from a plurality of remote storage units;

apparatus for presenting the consolidated portions as a single file system, wherein files stored in the file system are replicated across multiple portions of free space; and

apparatus for producing a new replica of data stored in an unavailable remote storage unit by accessing replicas of the data in other remote storage units.

5. A storage method comprising:

consolidating portions of free space from a plurality of remote storage units, wherein consolidating the portions of free space comprises accessing the remote storage units over a network;

storing data within the consolidated portions as a single file system;

discovering the portions of free space on the network; and

maintaining a metadata file for indicating files that are stored in the file system and their locations within the portions of free space.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , comprising replicating the data across multiple portions of free space.

7. A storage method comprising:

consolidating portions of free space from a plurality of remote storage units;

storing data within the consolidated portions as a single file system, wherein storing the data comprises storing the data provided to the storage system from a first remote storage unit in portions of free space from remote storage units other than the first remote storage unit; and

encrypting the data.

8. A storage method comprising:

consolidating portions of free space from a plurality of remote storage units; and

storing data within the consolidated portions as a single file system;

replicating the data across multiple portions of free space; and

producing a new replica of data stored in an unavailable remote storage unit by accessing replicas of the data in other remote storage units.