Patent ID: 7409396

Claim:
A method for facilitating access by a first digital computer to a file that is stored in a local file system tree of a second digital computer, both the first and the second digital computers being included in a network of digital computers; the first digital computer being adapted for retrieving from the second digital computer and for storing a cached image of the file, the method comprising the steps of: a) initially establishing a single, hierarchical domain tree that encompasses digital computers in the network of digital computers including the second digital computer by: i) digital computers in the network of digital computers exporting at least a root of a domain tree that is used in exporting files from digital computers; and ii) digital computers in the network of digital computers that have been previously designated as domain managers for a group of digital computers in the network of digital computers: 1) receiving exported roots for domain trees; 2) grafting onto a domain root of each of the domain managers the exported roots received from digital computers that belong to the group assigned to each of the domain managers; and 3) at least one domain manager, that is traversed by a request from the first digital computer for access to a file stored in the local file system tree of the second digital computer, receiving policy data specifying how access to files stored in the local domain tree of the second digital computer is to be administered; and b) the first digital computer retrieving from the domain manager the domain root for the hierarchical domain tree.