Client-server computer system and method utilizing a local client disk drive as a data cache

A cache only client-server configuration which provides the performance benefits of "dataless" client operation with the administrative efficiencies of a "diskless" client-server configuration. Utilizing cache only clients, the performance of stand-alone systems can be approximated utilizing a relatively small disk drive as a local data cache. The cache only clients may be considered as interchangeable units in that they hold no critical data and any data held on the local disk is a "clone" of the master copy held on the server. System configuration, administration and maintenance costs are dramatically reduced since software installation, distribution and backup may be managed at the server.