Windows 7 / Networking

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Implementing BranchCache

To implement BranchCache for a file server located at your central site, the file server must be running Windows Server 2008 R2 and you must install the BranchCache For Network Files role service of the File Services role on the server using the Add Roles Wizard. After doing this, you must also configure the shares on your file server to use BranchCache. Using Group Policy, you can enable or disable BranchCache on all your file server's shares, or you can mark specific shares to use BranchCache.

To implement BranchCache for a Web or application server located at your central site, the Web or application server must be running Windows Server 2008 R2, and you must install the BranchCache feature on the server using the Add Features Wizard. After doing this, you must also start the BranchCache service on your Web or application server by typing netsh BranchCache set service mode=local at an administrative-level command prompt.

To configure a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2 located at a branch office as a Hosted Cache server, you must install the BranchCache feature on the server, enable the feature and configure it to use Hosted Cache server mode, and install a certificate that is trusted by your client computers on the server.

To configure clients running Windows 7 located at a branch office to use BranchCache, you must enable BranchCache on the computers, configure the computers to use either Distributed Cache mode or Hosted Cache mode as needed, and open the necessary exceptions in Windows Firewall to allow the computers to access the cache on other computers at the site. BranchCache can be enabled and configured on computers running Windows 7 either by using Group Policy or by using the netsh branchcache context of the Netsh command.

More Info For more information on deploying a BranchCache solution for your organization, see the documentation found on the BranchCache section of the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter on Microsoft TechNet at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/dd425028.aspx.