Deploy a distributed cache mode design
Updated: October 7, 2009
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2
When you deploy BranchCache in distributed cache mode for a branch office, a hosted cache server is not required at the branch office.
Client computers that are running either Windows® 7 Enterprise or Windows® 7 Ultimate are installed at the branch office. These clients download content from content servers that are installed at the main office; and after downloading content, the client computers act as client cache servers by providing the content to other clients in the same branch office upon request.
To deploy BranchCache in distributed cache mode, you must install and configure content servers in your main office and install and configure client computers in your branch office. In addition, client computers at branch offices must be able to access the main office content servers over some type of wide area network (WAN) link, such as a dedicated or on-demand virtual private network (VPN) connection between the offices; or clients must use some other method to connect to the content servers, such as by using DirectAccess.
See the following topics to deploy BranchCache in distributed cache mode.