Directory cache management in a distributed data processing system

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second system, wherein said first notification instructs said first system to erase said first unit of directory information;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems, wherein said inhibiting condition is a saturation of process resources available for the task of automatically sending said notifications;
• and
• automatically sending a second notification from said second system to said first system to erase said first unit of directory information in response to said inhibiting condition.

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second system, wherein said first notification instructs said first system to erase said first unit of directory information;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems, wherein said inhibiting condition is an unavailability of communications resource between said second and first systems;
• and
• automatically sending a second notification from said second system to said first system to erase said first unit of directory information in response to said inhibiting condition.

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second system, wherein said first notification instructs said first system to erase said first unit of directory information;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems, wherein said inhibiting condition is a lack of a recent inquiry from said first system to said second system regarding additional directory information;
• and
• automatically sending a second notification from said second system to said first system to erase said first unit of directory information in response to said inhibiting condition.

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second system;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems;
• automatically sending a third notification from said second system to a third system in response to a previous inquiry by said third system of a directory structure of said second system and a subsequent change in the directory structure of said second system;
• and
• automatically sending a fourth notification from said second system to said first system that said second system is unable to send further additional units of directory information in response to said condition and when said inquiry by said third system was more recent than said inquiry by said first system.

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically ending an additional unit of directory information from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second system;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems, wherein said inhibiting condition is a saturation of second system process resources;
• and
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system that said second system is unable to send further additional units of directory information in response to said inhibiting condition.

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically sensing an additional unit of directory information from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second system;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems, wherein said inhibiting condition is an unavailability of memory at said second system for storing said additional units of directory information for sensing;
• and
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system that said second system is unable to send further additional units of directory information in response to said inhibiting condition.

A directory caching method for a network of data processing systems comprising:

• saving, at a first system, a first unit of directory information about a second system in response to an inquiry by said first system regarding a directory structure of said second system;
• automatically sensing an additional unit of directory information from said second system to said first system in response to a subsequent change in said directory structure of said second systems;
• detecting an inhibiting condition associated with said network of data processing systems, wherein said inhibiting condition is an unavailability of communications resources between said second and first systems;
• and
• automatically sending a first notification from said second system to said first system that said second system is unable to send further additional units of directory information in response to said inhibiting condition.