34CHAPTER 2: INSTALLING THE WEBCACHE

In the Proxy Cache deployment the Webcache is connected to an Ethernet switch in your LAN. You must configure the Web browser on each client machine in your network to explicitly direct its Web requests to the Webcache. For more information on Web browser configuration, see “Configuring Web Browsers” on page 49.

All Web requests are received and served by the Webcache. All non-Web traffic bypasses the Webcache and is sent directly to the appropriate destination.

If the Webcache fails, access to the Web is lost because each client machine has been configured to direct its Web requests to the Webcache.

You can avoid this loss of access to the Web by using Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) files to configure the Web browser on each client machine. The PAC file can instruct the browser to go directly to the Web if the Webcache is not available. For more information, see page 50.

Transparent Cache Figure 10 Transparent Cache Deployment

In the Transparent Cache deployment the Webcache is connected to a Layer 4 switch, router or firewall in your LAN which is capable of Redirection. The Layer 4 device (also known as a Layer 4 redirector or Web-enabled device) automatically redirects all Web requests to the Webcache. Therefore no configuration of the Web browser on each client machine is needed, which avoids configuration problems and reduces the demand on technical support.