Provided are implementations for improved access to information stored on a storage device. A plurality of first nodes and a second node are coupled to one another over a communications pathway, the second node being coupled to the storage device for determining meta data including block address maps to file data in the storage device, and the first nodes being configured for accessing file data from the storage device using said meta data, wherein at least one first node caches data including meta data for a file accessed by said first node. A file application on said first node is configured to get requested file data by accessing said cached data for the file. A file notification system sends a file change notification to said first node indicating changes affecting the cached data, wherein the file application on the first node inspects the change notification to determine whether to get the requested file data directly using said cached data, whereby file accesses may be effected for an extended time with data locally cached at first nodes of the system.