Abstract: A system and method are provided for warming a network intermediary (e.g., a proxy, a transaction accelerator) to enable it to provide effective optimization (e.g., data reduction) without a cold start. When a pair of network intermediaries cooperate to optimize a communication connection (e.g., between a client and a server), either or both intermediaries may form branch channels with one or more peers. Via these branch channels, the intermediaries may forward optimization information such as data references received from the other intermediary (i.e., in place of data segments, as part of a data reduction scheme), and/or resolve unknown references.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for network-extended storage. A portable storage device is coupled to a host computer, and network extension code stored on the portable storage device is invoked. The network extension code is operable to detect a file system write function call generated by an application executing on the host computer, the file system write function call operable to cause data to be written to the portable storage device, and cause the data to be written to the portable storage device based upon the file system write function call. The network extension code is further operable to generate a transmit determination indicative of whether to transmit the data to a network repository, and transmit the data to the network repository based upon the transmit determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for network-extended storage. A portable storage device is coupled to a host computer, and network extension code stored on the portable storage device is invoked. The network extension code is operable to detect a file system write function call generated by an application executing on the host computer, the file system write function call operable to cause data to be written to the portable storage device, and cause the data to be written to the portable storage device based upon the file system write function call. The network extension code is further operable to generate a transmit determination indicative of whether to transmit the data to a network repository, and transmit the data to the network repository based upon the transmit determination.