A method and apparatus for dynamically balancing the loading of data storage
facilities
is described. A listing is acquired of locations and loading of all segments of
a requested data object including all copies of the segments of the requested data
object. Those storage devices containing copies of each segment of the data object
having a least loading is selected. If the loading of the storage devices is greater
than the maximum loading for the storage devices, the segment is designated to
be copied. The presence of all segments of the requested data object is determined.
If there are missing segments of the requested data object, each of those missing
segments is assigned a file identification and file location, such that those missing
segments are assigned to data storage devices having the least loading. The missing
segments are retrieved from a back-up storage device.
