Hosted cache mode example

  • Article

Updated: November 4, 2009

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

In this example, BranchCache is deployed in hosted cache mode at a main office and a single branch office. This example depicts the following two stage process:

  • The branch office client computer Client 1 seeks and obtains content from the main office content server, and then advertises the content to the hosted cache server in the branch office. The hosted cache server downloads the content from Client 1 and adds the content to its cache.

  • Another client computer in the same branch office, Client 2, seeks the same content that was originally obtained by Client 1. In this case, Client 2 obtains the content from the local hosted cache server instead of over the wide area network link from the main office content server.

At the outset of the process, the employee using the computer Client 1 attempts to access content that is stored on a BranchCache-enabled content server.

Note

The content that the employee wants to access can be on any of the three types of content servers – a Web server, a BITS-based application server, or a file server.

In the following illustration, Client 1 seeks and obtains content from the main office content server, and then the hosted cache server obtains the content from Client 1 and caches the content.

 

The numbers in the illustration above correspond to the following actions:

  1. Client 1 sends a request for content to the main office content server. In this request, Client 1 indicates that it is BranchCache-capable.

  2. The content server obtains previously generated content information from a local cache and sends it to Client 1.

  3. Client 1 requests the content from the hosted cache server in the branch office, and the hosted cache server informs Client 1 that it does not have the content in its cache.

  4. Client 1 requests the content from the main office content server.

  5. Client 1 receives content from the main office content server.

  6. Client 1 advertises the content to the hosted cache server in the branch office; the hosted cache server connects to the client and downloads the content to store in its cache.

In the following illustration, Client 2 seeks and obtains content from the hosted cache server.

The numbers in the illustration above correspond to the following actions:

  1. Client 2 sends a request for content to the main office content server. In this case, Client 2 seeks the same content that Client 1 has already obtained.

  2. The content server obtains previously generated content information from a local cache and sends it to Client 2.

  3. Client 2 uses the content information and sends a request to the hosted cache server for the content. The hosted cache server sends a response stating that it has the content.

  4. Client 2 connects to the hosted cache server and downloads the content, using the content information that it received from the main office content server to verify the data.