Method and system for broadcast management in a data communication network that permits namesharing

A data communication network, comprising

• a network client;
• a network server coupled to said data communication network by a plurality of network adapters sharing a common logical name, said plurality of network adapters each having a different network address;
• a name caching entity located between said network client and said network server, said name caching entity including;
• a name cache;
• means for storing in said name cache said common logical name in association with a network address of one of said plurality of network adapters;
• means for converting broadcast frames to unicast frames by reference to said name cache;
• wherein said means for converting frames includes, means, responsive to receipt of a broadcast frame specifying a logical name, for searching said name cache for said logical name;
• and means, responsive to locating said logical name in said name cache, for inserting a network address associated with said logical name by said name cache into said broadcast frame to convert said broadcast frame into a unicast frame;
• and
• means for disassociating said logical name and said network address in said name cache in response to a failure to detect a frame indicating the establishment of a session with said network server within a selected interval of transmission of a frame requesting establishment of a session with said network server.

A method for establishing a session between a network client and a network server in a data communication network, wherein said network server is attached to said data communication network by a plurality of network adapters that each have a different network address and share a common logical name, said method comprising:

• storing, in a name cache, the logical name shared by said plurality of network adapters in association with a network address of one of said plurality of network adapters;
• in response to receipt of a broadcast frame from said network client requesting establishment of a session with said network server, converting said broadcast frame to a unicast frame by reference to said name cache and transmitting said unicast frame to said network server;
• in response to receipt, within a selected interval, of a response frame from said network server indicating establishment of a session, transmitting said response frame to said network client;
• and
• in response to a failure to receive a response frame within said selected interval, disassociating said logical name and said network address in said name cache.

A program product for establishing a session between a network client and a network server in a data communication network, wherein said network server is attached to said data communication network by a plurality of network adapters that each have a different network address and share a common logical name, said program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium;
• and
• instructions encoded within said computer usable medium, said instructions including:
• instruction means for storing, in a name cache, the logical name shared by said plurality of network adapters in association with a network address of one of said plurality of network adapters;
• instruction means, responsive to receipt of a broadcast frame from said network client requesting establishment of a session with said network server, for converting said broadcast frame to a unicast frame by reference to said name cache and transmitting said unicast frame to said network server;
• instruction means, responsive to receipt, within a selected interval, of a response frame from said network server indicating establishment of a session, for transmitting said response frame to said network client;
• and
• instruction means, responsive to a failure to receive a response frame within said selected interval, for disassociating said logical name and said network address in said name cache.