Patent ID: 8396061

Claim:
An apparatus for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, the apparatus comprising: a switch that includes a network port configured for coupling to a network and a plurality of initiator ports each configured for coupling to a processing device, wherein the switch routes data from the network port to the plurality of initiator ports and from the plurality of initiator ports to the network port; and a management agent communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to facilitate operation of the switch, wherein, during operation of the apparatus, the management agent caches data received from a network target device in response to a first login data generated by a first processing device coupled to a first initiator port of the switch, captures a second login data generated by a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port of the switch so that the second login data is not forwarded to the network target device, and responds to the second login data generated by the second processing device using the cached data received from the target device.