Patent ID: 6847968

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; and 2) grafting onto a domain root of the domain manager the exported roots received from digital computers that belong to the group assigned to the domain manager; and b: the first digital computer retrieving from the domain manager the domain root for the hierarchical domain tree.