I've got a handler (list.ashx for example) that has a method that retrieves a large dataset, then grabs only the records that will be shown on any given "page" of data. We are allowing the users to do sorting on these results. So, on any given page run, I will be retrieving a dataset that I just got a few seconds/minutes ago, but reordering them, or showing the next page of data, etc.

My point is that my dataset really hasn't changed. Normally, the dataset would be stuck into the viewstate of a page, but since I'm using a handler, I don't have that convenience. At least I don't think so.

So, what is a common way to store the viewstate associated with a current user's given page when using a handler? Is there a way to take the dataset, encode it somehow and send that back to the user, and then on the next call, pass it back and then rehydrate a dataset from those bits?

I don't think Session would be a good place to store it since we might have 1000 users all viewing different datasets of different data, and that could bring the server to its knees. At least I think so.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation, and can you give me any advice?