System and method for servicing inquiry commands about target devices in storage area network

Inquiry data received from sequential target devices is stored in a cache memory. In one embodiment, the cache memory is coupled to a router. In one embodiment, when the router receives from a host an inquiry command about a target, the router first checks to see if the inquiry command can be serviced from the cache. If so, the inquiry data about the target is retrieved from the cache and returned to the host. If not, the router checks to see if the target is busy. If not busy, the router routes the inquiry command to the target and stores the inquiry data returned by the target in the cache. If the target is busy, the router places the inquiry command in a queue. When the target becomes available, the router forwards the inquiry command to the target for processing, thereby keeping the inquiry command from timing out.