1. A method for predictively responding to a network management data request, the method comprising: receiving a first network management data request; determining if the first network management data request matches a pattern of request defined and stored in advance in a memory, the pattern including one or more expected management data requests; determining if data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in a cache of prefetched network management data if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory; sending a response including the data responsive to the first network management data request, if the data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in the cache and if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory; collecting, if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory, data responsive to any remaining network management data requests in the matched pattern, wherein the pattern further comprises a periodicity of the network management data requests contained in the pattern, and wherein the network management data request is a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) request; and if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory, but data responsive to the first network management data request is not contained in the cache, initiating periodic data collections for data responsive to network management data requests in the pattern.