1. A computer-implemented method for caching information at a client related to remote files stored at a server, the method comprising: receiving information from a software application indicating a remote file to open in an open request determining whether a lease exists on the client for the indicated remote file, wherein a lease provides cache coherency information associated with the remote file independent of zero or more open handles to the remote file; if no existing lease exists, sending a lease request to open the file and request a lease that identifies one or more cache intentions of the client based on the access information received from the application; and receiving a lease response indicating whether the requested lease was granted, wherein the preceding steps are performed by at least one processor.