Network Cache - similar to "offline files" for CD Images

[shaakir]

Hi,

I've tried to look at the most popular network-capable CD image prover/manager tools, and have not been able to identify something like this:

* CD Images stored on the network, admin uses some tool to assign / allow CD-image usage by client PCs. [so far okay]
* On access, CDs are read from the network [also ok]
* Any data (even partial images - just bits that are used) accessed are stored in a configurable local cache, with the oldest / least used portions deleted out after certain expiry or cache being filled, or "purge" by the administrator (e.g. image disappeared, or admin wanted to clean out specific images or the complete cache on every PC) [it seems NOBODY has this kind of functionlity]

You can imagine a lab full of PCs all [edit]repeatedly and unnecessarily[/edit] accessing a server over the same LAN link, which is shared by other labs, etc....

I'm not sure how far the "offline files" feature can help in this regard, if cd images are stored and accessed off a network share.

Anyway, my 2c...

Thanks for listening.

[Underheaven]

* Any data (even partial images - just bits that are used)

Game Jackal does something like this : )