public FileAttribute getFileAttribute(String lfn)
    {
        // check first
        int rcID = getReplicaCatalogueID();
        if (rcID == -1 || lfn == null) {
            return null;
        }

        int eventTag = DataGridTags.CTLG_GET_FILE_ATTR;
        FileAttribute fAttr = null;

        // sends a request to this RC
        sendEvent(eventTag, lfn, rcID);

        // waiting for a response from the RC
        Sim_type_p tag = new Sim_type_p(DataGridTags.CTLG_FILE_ATTR_DELIVERY);

        // only look for this type of ack
        Sim_event ev = new Sim_event();
        super.sim_get_next(tag, ev);

        try {
            fAttr = (FileAttribute) ev.get_data();
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            fAttr = null;
            System.out.println(super.get_name()
                    + ".getFileAttribute(): Exception");
        }
        return fAttr;
    }