Deploying the Webcache in Your Network 33

Deploying theWebcache in YourNetwork

You must determine how you are going to deploy the Webcache in your network. The Webcache can be deployed in two ways:

■Proxy Cache mode — The Webcache is connected to a Layer 2 switch in your LAN. You must configure the Web browser on each client machine in your network to direct its Web requests to the Webcache.

■Transparent Cache mode — The Webcache is connected to a Layer 4 redirection device — a switch, router or firewall in your LAN which is capable of Redirection. No configuration of the Web browser on each client machine is needed because the Layer 4 device automatically redirects Web requests to the Webcache.

CAUTION: 3Com recommends that you deploy your Webcache on the LAN side of a firewall, or on the SuperStack 3 Firewall's DMZ port as described in “Deploying the SuperStack 3 Firewall as a Proxy Forwarder” on page 35.

The term “Web requests” refers to three types of network traffic; HTTP, HTTPS (SSL encrypted) and HTTP-FTP. The Webcache can accept all of these traffic types. In Proxy Cache mode, you should configure the Web browser on each client machine to use the Webcache as the server for each of these protocols.

HTTPS (SSL encrypted) traffic is only passed through by the Webcache; it is not decoded or cached.

Proxy Cache

Figure 9 Proxy Cache Deployment

 

Client Machine

 

Server

 

WAN Gateway

 

Client Machine

LAN

WAN

Client Machine

Server

Webcache