How an AutoClient System Works

The CacheFS technology is the important component of AutoClient systems. A cache is a local storage area for data. A cached file system is a local file system that stores files in the cache as they are referenced, and subsequent references to the same files are satisfied from the cache rather than again retrieving them from the server. This functionality reduces the load on the network and the server, and generally results in faster access for the AutoClient system. Note that when the cache becomes full, space is reclaimed on a least recently used (LRU) basis. Files that have been unreferenced for the longest time are discarded from the cache to free space for the files that are currently being referenced.

An AutoClient system uses its local disk for swap space and to cache its individual root (/) file system and the /usr file system from a server's back file systems. Figure 1-2 shows how an AutoClient system works.

Figure 1-2 How an AutoClient System Works