A computer network with distributed shared memory, comprising: a clustered memory cache aggregated from and comprised of physical memory locations on a plurality of physically distinct computing systems; a plurality of local cache managers, each of the local cache managers being local to and associated with a different portion of the clustered memory cache; a metadata service operatively coupled with each of the local cache managers via a network infrastructure; and a plurality of clients operatively coupled with the metadata service and the local cache managers, where in response to a request issuing from any of the clients for a data item present in the clustered memory cache, the metadata service is configured to respond with identification of the local cache manager associated with the portion of the clustered memory cache containing such data item, characterized in that each of the local cache managers is - configured to control granting of locks to clients requesting access to data items cached in the portion of the clustered memory cache associated with the local cache manager, - running on a different one of the physically distinct computing systems, and where the portion of the clustered memory cache associated with that local cache manager is comprised of physical memory locations on the same physically distinct computing system, or - configured such that any access request by one of the clients for a data item in the clustered memory cache is negotiated between the client and the local cache manager associated with the portion of the clustered memory cache containing the data item. a clustered memory cache aggregated from and comprised of physical memory locations on a plurality of physically distinct computing systems; a plurality of local cache managers, each of the local cache managers being local to and associated with a different portion of the clustered memory cache; a metadata service operatively coupled with each of the local cache managers via a network infrastructure; and a plurality of clients operatively coupled with the metadata service and the local cache managers, where in response to a request issuing from any of the clients for a data item present in the clustered memory cache, the metadata service is configured to respond with identification of the local cache manager associated with the portion of the clustered memory cache containing such data item, characterized in that each of the local cache managers is - configured to control granting of locks to clients requesting access to data items cached in the portion of the clustered memory cache associated with the local cache manager, - running on a different one of the physically distinct computing systems, and where the portion of the clustered memory cache associated with that local cache manager is comprised of physical memory locations on the same physically distinct computing system, or - configured such that any access request by one of the clients for a data item in the clustered memory cache is negotiated between the client and the local cache manager associated with the portion of the clustered memory cache containing the data item. - configured to control granting of locks to clients requesting access to data items cached in the portion of the clustered memory cache associated with the local cache manager, - running on a different one of the physically distinct computing systems, and where the portion of the clustered memory cache associated with that local cache manager is comprised of physical memory locations on the same physically distinct computing system, or - configured such that any access request by one of the clients for a data item in the clustered memory cache is negotiated between the client and the local cache manager associated with the portion of the clustered memory cache containing the data item.