1. A standalone cache unit for caching data operations requested from one or more networked data storage devices by one or more remote clients, the standalone cache unit comprising: a flash dual in-line memory module (DIMM) cache memory for caching data that is requested by a remote client; a packet processor coupled to the flash DIMM cache memory and to one or more I/O ports for transparently splicing connections between the data storage devices and remote clients, where the packet processor inspects network protocol traffic state parameters received on the I/O ports to determine if a request from a remote client can be serviced by the standalone cache unit; and a cache control module for controlling caching operations in the flash DIMM cache memory.