Rodney, This is true for any caching proxy server that can cache more than just HTML files. It works on the same principal - a client requests a file, the proxy checks to see if the file is already in the cache, if it is in the cache it makes sure the file is not stale, if it is not in the cache it attempts to download the file and put it in the cache, and then the file is returned to the client. Subsequent requests for the file are then drawn directly from the cached file until its entry becomes stale at which time it is updated.
One proxy server I know this works well on is MS Proxy. One thing with the MS updates is that the downloads are load balanced. So one update may request the file from one server and another update may request the same file from another server. The caching is by URL, so even though the files are the same, the requests are not. So you may end up with three, four, or five copies of the same file in cache. If you have a lot of PCs to do updates on, this is a time and bandwidth saver. It's quite something to watch the WindowsUpdate download 20MB of files in just a few seconds (on a 100Mb network). There are also proxies that can cache FTP files as well, but I can see this turning into a problem if you download frequently updated files. -Jeff At 11:15 PM 06/11/2002 -0500, Rodney Richison wrote: >Dave, in the other forum that I'm a member of "ascii forum" for computer >bussiness owners, a guy just made this statement. Could it be true? >********************************************** >Dealing with constant downloads of MS updates is one area where a caching >proxy server is helpful. If the download is already in the proxy cache, the >download happens instantly. >*************************************************************************** > >If so, we fixin to proxy dude!! With sambar!! > >BTW, if your not an ascii member, you should be. It's 100.00 monthly and the >benifits are well worth it with TD and Ingram etc.. The discounts with >these venders and others will pay your dues. If you've any questions, just >ask off forum and I'll tell you all about it! ------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe please go to http://www.sambar.ch/list/
