A network of switches with a distributed name server configuration and push/pull caching of remote node device information is disclosed. The network comprises a first switch coupled to a second switch. Each of the switches directly coupled to corresponding node devices. The first switch maintains a database of information about its local node devices. The second switch maintains a information cache about remote node devices, and periodically verifies that the cache information matches the database information on the first switch. The second switch preferably notifies node devices directly coupled to the second switch of state changes after notification messages are received from the first switch, and after mismatches are detected between the cache and the database. The second switch preferably responds to any queries about remote node devices by accessing the cache. In this manner, name server traffic overhead may advantageously be reduced in a robust, efficient manner.