Computer storage device having network interface

A storage device comprising:

• a processor;
• a computer interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a computer;
• a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a file server;
• a storage means communicably connected to the processor;
• and
• a removable media storage component communicably connected to the processor, wherein removable media which includes a read-only copy of selected non-user files stored on the file server is made accessible to the processor through the removable media storage component;
• wherein the computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor either (1) provides the non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means;
• (2) obtains the non-user file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
• (3) accesses the selected non-user files when the storage device can not communicate with the file server and, if the requested non-user file is available from the removable media, obtains the non-user file from the removable media, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
• or (4) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer.

A storage device comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a file server;
• a computer interface communicably connected to the processor to enable the processor to communicate with a computer, wherein the computer includes a removable media storage component and removable media which includes a read-only copy of selected non-user files stored on the file server is made accessible to the processor through the removable media storage component;
• and
• a storage means communicably connected to the processor;
• wherein the computer may request a non-user file from the processor and the processor either (1) provides the non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means;
• (2) obtains the non-user file from the file server if the non-user file is available from the file server, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
• (3) accesses the selected non-user files when the storage device can not communicate with the file server and, if the requested non-user file is available from the removable media, obtains the non-user file from the removable media, caches the obtained non-user file on the storage means, and provides the obtained non-user file to the computer on a read-only basis;
• or (4) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer.