DISTRIBUTED VIRTUAL WEB CACHE IMPLEMENTED ENTIRELY IN SOFTWARE

摘要

A method and system are provided for optimizing the local caching of one or more data components available from a server node. Each of plural nodes connected to a local area network is provided with a locally physically present cache. Each of the caches of at least some of the plurality of nodes are linked together into a single virtual cache. A particular one of the nod es is designated as a repository node for persistently storing a particular dat a component and for providing a copy of the particular data component to other referencing nodes of the plurality of nodes which lack, but which desire to access, the particular data component. Designation of the particular node as the repository node is unchanged solely by providing a copy of the particula r data component to one of the referencing nodes that desires to access the particular data component. The repository function of a node for a particula r data component is relatively static. For instance, assume that a first referencing node obtains from the repository node a copy of the particular data component and performs a group of one or more access operations on the copy of the data component. If another referencing node lacks a copy of, but desires to access, the particular data component, a copy of the particular data component is provided from the repository node to the other referencing node. One of the nodes may be designated as a monitor node for the particula r data component. The monitor node responds to requests by each referencing no de to identify the repository node of the particular data component by providin g the identify of the particular node which serves as the repository node for the particular data component.