nfs-lookup-cache · shipping · also NFS name cache, NFS dentry cache

NFS lookup cache

An NFS lookup cache retains directory-name resolution results, including found and missing entries, subject to revalidation.

Related Observatory article: NFS lookup cache on hesela.com

Linux lookupcache=positive revalidates negative entries; lookupcache=none revalidates both positive and negative entries before use. These controls do not disable file-data caching. More validation can increase server work.

Relations

related

nfs-storage, nfs-attribute-cache, close-to-open-consistency

Limitations

• Name visibility is not evidence of durable file contents or a multi-file transaction. [2, 3]

Citations

1. nfs-utils nfs(5), Debian trixie: lookupcache option. (accessed 2026-10-14)
2. RFC 7530, section 10.8: Name Caching. (accessed 2026-10-14)
3. NFS stable writes: what COMMIT, flush and FUA actually promise (accessed 2026-10-14)

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