Configuring HTTP compression

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This topic provides instructions about configuring HTTP content compression. HTTP compression uses the industry standard GZIP algorithm to eliminate redundant data and reduce file size for HTTP data. For more information, see Overview of HTTP compression.

Configuring HTTP compression consists of the following steps:

  • Enable compression
  • Specify the networks objects from which clients will be allowed to request compressed HTTP responses.
  • Specify the networks objects from which Forefront TMG which request compressed HTTP responses.
  • Enable content inspection
  • Specify which content types will be compressed

Where to start. Configure the compression functionality in Forefront TMG Management, in the Web Access Policy node, on the Web Access Policy tab. In the Tasks pane under Related Tasks. Click Configure HTTP Compression to open and configure the HTTP Compression properties.

To enable compression

  • On the General tab of the HTTP compression properties, verify that Enable HTTP compression is selected.

To specify network objects from which clients can request compressed HTTP responses

  1. On the Return Compressed Data tab, click Add to add the network objects from which clients will be allowed to request compressed HTTP responses

  2. Optionally, under Exceptions, you can click Add to add the network objects that will be exceptions to the client who will be allowed to request compressed HTTP responses.

To specify network objects from which Forefront TMG can request compressed HTTP responses

  1. On the Request Compressed Data tab, click Add to add the network elements that will be exceptions to the network elements from which Forefront TMG will request compressed HTTP responses.

  2. Optionally, under Exceptions, you can click Add to add the network elements that will be exceptions to the client who will be allowed to request compressed HTTP responses.

To enable content inspection

  • On the Content Inspection tab, select Decompress incoming packets to allow Forefront TMG Web filters to inspect the content.

To select content types to be compressed

  1. On the Content Types tab, select one of the following options:

    • Compress all content types except selected to specify the content types that will be excluded (all others will be included).
    • Compress the selected content types only to specify the content types that will be included (all others will be excluded). If you select this option and then do not select any content types, all traffic will be compressed.

  2. In Content Types, select specific content types to be excluded or included.

  3. If you select Compress all you can add new content types and then apply HTTP compression to them. For instructions on creating new content types, see Configuring content types. There are some types of content that cannot be compressed. For more information, see About content types and compression.