Patent ID: 7603449
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for caching information about devices on a network, the method comprising: storing static or near-static data about a target device in a cache memory coupled to a router, wherein the router is communicatively coupled to the target device, wherein the target device is a sequential device, wherein the static or near-static data about the target device comprises SCSI response data from the target device, and wherein the router and the target device reside on the network; receiving a request for the static or near-static data about the target device; reading the static or near-static data about the target device from the cache memory coupled to the router; determining whether the target device is busy; and if the target device is busy, providing at least a portion of the corresponding stored static or near-static data about the target device in response to the request to prevent failure caused by the target device not being able to respond within a predetermined amount of time, and, if the target device is not busy, providing the static or near-static data about the target device returned by the target device.