A central directory server reduces the number of broadcast searches in your network. When the central directory server performs a broadcast search for a network node, it stores the location of the requested LU in its database. If another network node server sends a directed search for the same resource to the central directory server, the central directory server does not have to issue another broadcast search because it already has the resource in its database.

Because a central directory server can receive search requests from many network nodes, its database grows faster and contains more resources than that of a network node server, which only receives the search requests of its served LUs. This centralization increases the chance that a resource will be found in the database and a broadcast search will not be required.