How Distributed Cache Works

The process is similar to that used by Hosted Cache mode, except requests for cached content are multicast to the local network and a Hosted Cache server is not required:

1. A client running Windows 7 connects to the content server and requests data. The server authorizes the user and returns an identifier. Because this is the first time any client has attempted to retrieve the file, it is not already cached on the local network. Therefore, the client retrieves the file directly from the content server and uses Branch- Cache to cache it on its hard disk.
2. A second requesting client running Windows 7 requests the same file from the content server. Again, the content server authorizes the user and returns an identifier.
3. The requesting client sends a request to its peers on the local network for the required file using the WS-Discovery multicast protocol.
4. The client that previously cached the file becomes the serving client and sends the file to the requesting client. The data is encrypted using an encryption key derived from the hashes. The client decrypts the data, validates it, and passes it to the application.