A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a 3-phase commit client-server protocol that allows the EIS server to detect the sick-but-not-dead situations, identify the resources involved, determine its degraded level, take the actions if needed, and send out a degraded status information message to the client. In accordance with the techniques, transmission can be restarted using checkpoints created at the block level by allowing restarts from various points within a logical container, for example a point at which 10%, 50%, or 75% of the logical container had been transmitted. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than, for example, by 50%. The first component has a lengthwise axis and cooperates with the first body so that the operatively positioned first component is stabilized by the first body in a direction that is transverse to the lengthwise axis of the first component. The plug shell portion of the housing is integrally connected to the handle portion, and combines with the plug support structure extending under the plug section of the PCBA to form a structural arrangement similar to a conventional male USB connector plug that allows access to metal contacts formed on the PCBA, but without having the plug shell soldered to the PCBA.