Plan BranchCache hosted cache mode deployment

  • Article

Updated: November 4, 2009

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

When you deploy BranchCache in hosted cache mode, you must deploy client computers and one server computer, the hosted cache server, in each branch office.

The hosted cache server must be running one of the following operating systems:

  • Windows Server® 2008 R2 Enterprise

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with Hyper-V

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Core Install

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Core Install with Hyper-V

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems

  • Windows Server® 2008 R2 Datacenter

  • Windows Server® 2008 R2 Datacenter with Hyper-V

  • Windows Server® 2008 R2 Datacenter Core Install with Hyper-V

If the server computer in each branch office is not running one of these operating systems, you must plan to upgrade the computer or to migrate the server to another computer, depending on hardware requirements and your resources.

In addition, compare the free hard disk space to the amount of hard disk space that will be required to cache all of the content on all of your content servers, and ensure that the hosted cache server has sufficient free disk space to store all of the content.

Note

The hosted cache server can serve purposes in addition to hosting the BranchCache content. For example, if the server you want to use as a hosted cache server is also a domain controller, a DHCP server, or is performing other services for your branch office network, you can still use it as a hosted cache server. Just ensure that the computer hardware is sufficient to serve all purposes for which the server is intended.

The client computers must be running either the Windows® 7 Enterprise or the Windows® 7 Ultimate operating system.

To plan for client computer deployment, take the following actions as required to create your deployment plan:

  1. Evaluate each client computer in each branch office and document the following actions:

    1. If the client computer is running either the Windows® 7 Enterprise or the Windows® 7 Ultimate operating system, and if BranchCache is already configured in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide, no action is needed.

    2. If the client computer is running either the Windows® 7 Enterprise or the Windows® 7 Ultimate operating system but BranchCache is not configured, you must configure BranchCache in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide.

    3. If the client computer is not running either the Windows® 7 Enterprise or the Windows® 7 Ultimate operating system and the client computer hardware meets the minimum hardware requirements for one of these operating systems, determine whether you want to upgrade the computer or migrate the client to another computer. After you upgrade or migrate the computer, you must configure BranchCache in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide.

    4. If the client computer is not running either the Windows® 7 Enterprise or the Windows® 7 Ultimate operating system and the client computer hardware does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for one of these operating systems, you must migrate the client to another computer that does meet the minimum hardware requirements for the respective operating system. After you migrate the computer, you must configure BranchCache in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide.

  2. Identify non-domain member client computers and plan to manually configure them in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide.

  3. Examine your domain Group Policy configuration and plan on enabling BranchCache client configuration in Group Policy for domain member client configuration in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide.

  4. If you are using DirectAccess, plan on creating Internet Protocol security (IPsec) rules that allow inbound and outbound BranchCache traffic on client computers in accordance with the instructions in the BranchCache Deployment Guide.