34 CHAPTER 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.
