Abstract: A machine in a linear communication orbit receives a query, including a set of one or more rules, through the linear communication orbit. The machine, for each respective rule: identifies files that contain content that satisfies the respective rule, generates a first report identifying a count of files at the machine that contain content satisfying the rule, and sends the first report through the linear communication orbit to a server. The machine receives an instruction packet from an external machine that includes an instruction for establishing a direct duplex connection between the respective machine and the external machine. then sends a request to the external machine to establish the direct duplex connection. The machine sends to the external machine, via the direct duplex connection, a second report including information identifying files at the machine that contain file content satisfying each rule in the set of one or more rules.