Abstract: A cache apparatus for a network receives and responds to network file-services-protocol requests from client workstations coupled to the network. The cache apparatus includes a digital memory for storing data transmitted in responding to the network requests. A processing unit executes program instructions. A network interface couples the cache apparatus to the network. The interface includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for receiving the requests and transmitting responses thereto. A file-request-service module includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for interpreting the requests and generating responses thereto. The network interface transmits file-request-generation module requests to network.

Abstract: A cache apparatus for a network receives and responds to network file-services-protocol requests from client workstations coupled to the network. The cache apparatus includes a digital memory for storing data transmitted in responding to the network requests. A processing unit executes program instructions. A network interface couples the cache apparatus to the network. The interface includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for receiving the requests and transmitting responses thereto. A file-request-service module includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for interpreting the requests and generating responses thereto. The file-request-service module also checks the memory for the presence of an image of data specified by the request. When the data is present, the file-request-service module retrieves the data for inclusion in the response.

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches (“NDCs”) (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form an NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit (“AVC”) from the NDC client terminator site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server terminator site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client terminator site (24). The client workstation (42) overwrites at least a portion of an image of a dataset that is projected into the NDC client terminator site (24) from the NDC server terminator site (22). Only overwritten portions of the projected image are rewritten into to the dataset stored at the NDC server terminator site (22).

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches (“NDCs”) (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form an NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit (“AVC”) from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24). The NDCs (50) maintain absolute consistency between the source dataset and its projections at all NDC client terminator sites (24, 204B and 206) at which client workstations access the dataset. Channels (116) in each NDC (50) accumulate profiling data from the requests to access the dataset for which they have been claimed.

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches (“NDCs”) (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form an NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit (“AVC”) from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24). The NDCs (50) maintain absolute consistency between the source dataset and its projections at all NDC client terminator sites (24, 204B and 206) at which client workstations access the dataset. Channels (116) in each NDC (50) accumulate profiling data from the requests to access the dataset for which they have been claimed.

Abstract: A digital computer network includes a network-infrastructure cache that provides proxy services to a plurality of client workstations concurrently requesting access to data stored on a server. A network interconnecting the workstations and the server carries requests for data to the server, and responses thereto back to requesting client workstations. The network-infrastructure cache receives and responds to requests from the client workstations for access to data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services. A cache in the network-infrastructure cache stores data for inclusion in responses. If the cache lacks data needed for a response, then the network-infrastructure cache forwards a request for the missing data onto the server, and receives data responsive thereto. In one embodiment the network-infrastructure cache converts requests received from clients in a first protocol into requests in a second protocol for transmission to the server, and conversely.

Abstract: A network of digital computers includes Network Distributed Cache (“NDC”) sites. Each NDC site includes an NDC that has an NDC buffer. One of the NDC sites receives a request to access data in a stored dataset. The receiving NDC checks its NDC buffer for a projected image of requested data. If the NDC buffer lacks the requested data, and if the NDC site is not the NDC server terminator site for the requested data, the NDC site transmits the request to an NDC site that is closer to the NDC server terminator site. When a requesting NDC site and the request receiving NDC site having a projected image of the requested data both have this NDC buffers located in a shared memory, the NDC site having the data transmits to the requesting NDC a pointer to a location in its NDC buffer for the data.

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches (“NDCs”) (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form a NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit (“AVC”) from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24) where it may be either read or written by the workstation 42. One NDC (50) of a pair of NDC sites (26A and 26B) which share memory (314A-B) returns a pointer to an NDC buffer (129) in response to a request for data from the other NDC (50).

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches (“NDCs”) (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form a NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit (“AVC”) from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24) where it may be either read or written by the workstation 42. One NDC (50) of a pair of NDC sites (26A and 26B) which share memory (314A-B) returns a pointer to an NDC buffer (129) in response to a request for data from the other NDC (50).

Abstract: A data storage device disposed in a transmission path between a destination node and a data source stores images of files in a memory. The destination node sends data requests to the source via the data transmission path. The storage device includes a data transfer detector that detects transfers of data from the source to the destination node along the data transmission path. A memory manager of the storage device stores only selected ones of the transferred data files in the memory. A data request detector to the storage device detects requests for data passing along the data transmission path. An interceptor of the storage device intercepts and services detected data requests when the requested data has been previously stored in the memory, and the stored requested data file meets predetermined criteria. In this way, the storage device may transfer requested data from the memory to the destination node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for caching data in a Network Distributed Cache ("NDC") (50) that is included in a network of digital computers (22, 24, 26A and 26B). The NDC (50) includes an NDC buffer (129) for storing at least a portion of an image of a dataset such as a file (156) retrieved from a server site (22) in response to a request from a client workstation (42) to access the dataset. The NDC (50) allocates channels (116) that store metadata extracted from the requests to access the dataset for which the channels (116) have been claimed, and from responses to such requests. The NDC (50) uses accumulated data stored in channels (116) to anticipate future requests to access datasets, and to forestall, as much as practicable, the client workstation (42) from experiencing any delay in accessing data by asynchronously pre-fetching data in advance of receiving a request from a client workstation (42).

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches ("NDCs") (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form a NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit ("AVC") from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24) where it may be either read or written by the workstation 42. The NDCs (50) maintain absolute consistency between the source dataset and its projections at all NDC client terminator sites (24, 204B and 206) at which client workstations access the dataset. Channels (116) in each NDC (50) accumulate profiling data from the requests to access the dataset for which they have been claimed.