BranchCache

BranchCache is a wide area network (WAN) bandwidth optimization technology that is included in some editions of the Windows Server® 2012 and Windows® 8 operating systems, as well as in some editions of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. To optimize WAN bandwidth when users access content on remote servers, BranchCache copies content from your main office or hosted cloud content servers and caches the content at branch office locations, allowing client computers at branch offices to access the content locally rather than over the WAN.

Note
Windows® 8 Pro contains the BranchCache platform APIs and Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) integration; Windows 8 Enterprise contains the BranchCache platform APIs, BITS integration, and the HTTP and Server Message Block (SMB) integration. Windows 8, which is sometimes called Core, does not provide support for BranchCache.

For more information, see the following topics in the Windows Server 2012 Technical Library:

• BranchCache Overview
  
  
• What's New in BranchCache
  
  
• BranchCache Network Shell and Windows PowerShell Commands
  
  
• BranchCache Deployment Guide