ISPPlanet Cache Review Series - InfoLibria DynaCache 220i

Adding the DynaCache to Your Network
We tested the DynaCache as a simultaneous forward proxy and in-line transparent cache. Forward proxy requires browser reconfiguration to send HTTP requests to port 8080 at DynaCache LAN1 or LAN2. For transparent mode, insert the cache just inside your WAN router by plugging the router into NetB and the existing Ethernet drop into NetA. Even with the DynaLink powered off, insertion causes only momentary disruption in traffic flow.

Customers who own a switch or require VLANs or load balancing may prefer to use a switch with LAN1 or LAN2 instead of using the DynaLink to bridge NetA and NetB. Router forwarding with Cisco's Web Cache Coordination Protocol will be supported in the next release, slated for March/April 2000. Documentation doesn't describe reverse proxy, but several InfoLibria customers are using the DynaCache in this manner. Presumably those customers rely on third-party load balancers to distribute traffic across back-end servers, since no relevant commands are included in the DynaCache CLI.

DynaCaches can cooperate in a loosely-coupled fashion. When the DynaLink sheds load under heavy traffic, an upstream cache may handle overflow requests. ICP can also be used to distribute workload by building a network of caches. The DynaCache becomes an ICP server by enabling a port for incoming requests. It consults other ICP servers -- siblings or parents -- whenever incoming requests cannot be vended from its cache. Configured ICP servers can be temporarily disabled, included in a round-robin list, or designated as the last resort.

Introduction	DynaCaching Services
Installation & Setup <	Advanced Management Features
>Command-Line Administration	Keeping Tabs on the DynaCache
Configuration & Script Files	Product Support/Final Thoughts