A mass storage controller includes a packet filter module for receiving a packet containing an updated sector of a remote file allocation table from a host device. The packet filter module is further operable for scanning the updated sector contents to determine their state. The updated sector is written to a local file allocation table of a local device when the state of the updated sector contents match a first state. An original sector of the local file allocation table corresponding to the updated sector is retained when the state of the updated sector contents match a second state.