In a network without a central directory server, broadcast searches are performed by any of the network nodes. These network nodes may be acting on behalf of LUs attached directly to them, LEN-attached LUs, or (when the network node is acting as a network node server) on behalf of LUs attached to end nodes that they serve. When the network node receives a request from an LU for a session with another LU, it checks for information in the database about the location of the partner LU. If it does not find the location information for the partner LU, the network node server of the requesting logical unit initiates a broadcast search.

The location information of the resource is not communicated to the other network nodes. If another network node server receives a request for the same resource and does not have the location information, it issues a broadcast search.

In a network with a central directory server, broadcast searches are performed only by the central directory server. If a network node server does not know the location of a partner LU, it sends a directed search to the central directory server instead of issuing a broadcast search. The central directory server checks its database and issues a broadcast search only if it does not have the information. When the requested LU is located, the central directory server updates its directory and returns the information to the requesting network node. The network node then updates its database with the information and initiates the session with the partner LU. After a resource location is stored in the central directory database, no further broadcast searches are required, until the resource moves or is deactivated.