Client computers are decoupled from file servers in a computer network, by placing a network node, also termed a file switch or file switch computer, between the client computers and the file servers. To the client computers, the file switch appears to be a file server having enormous storage capabilities...http://www.google.fr/patents/US6889249?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US6889249 - Transaction aggregation in a switched file system
