Best of the ISP-Lists

Caching: Where to Start?

Is a cache appliance the way to go for a small installation, or are the cost advantages of 'free' cache solutions compelling?

[January 14, 2000]

On the ISP-Caching List in January 2000, JE issued a plea for some advice.

"I run a small rural ISP of about 3,500 customers. Our only Internet connection consists of two T1s connected to a Cisco 2501. In November, we started rolling out cable modems and, of course, our T1's started filling up. Now we are looking for a transparent caching solution.

"We've looked at CacheFlow and Cobalt. It strikes me that CF has more bells and whistles - and charges for them. What would you recommend?"

 

A number of respondents had recommendations:

[SB suggested] "Use a CacheFlow box with Web Cache Communication Protocol (WCCP) from your 2501. Also get SkyCache; it doesn't cost as much as a T1—especially in a rural area like yours—and you'll save bandwidth."

[Ed. note: SkyCache—which changed its name to Cidera on Jan. 11—provides satellite broadcast delivery of cached Internet content.]

[MS (of Novell) wrote] "Best price and best cache are from Dell or Compaq. They both have cache appliances that are cheap and faster than anyone else."

[Ed. note: Both these solutions—as well as a number of others—use Novell's Internet Caching System (ICS) software engine.]

 

One list member questioned the need for ICS:

[TJ opined] "ICS is way overkill—in performance and cost—for this kind of traffic. The Linux/Squid will support the WCCP v1.0; so would the Cobalt box. Unless Cacheflow is supporting WCCP v2.0, I don't see the advantage, given the cost difference."

[Ed.note: Squid is a free, Unix-based open-source cache/proxy server.]

[JL suggested] "Why not try Proactive's RH 6.1 or Mandrake 6.1. It will provide you with an 'out-of-the-box' Squid solution and is easy to install and learn. Have a look at the Squid Web Proxy Web site for help on Squid. "

[LD (of Cisco Systems) offered some perspective on WCCP] "Cisco, CacheFlow, and Inktomi all have working implementations of WCCP v2 and are shipping software today. Novell, Infolibria, and Network Appliance have licensed WCCP technology but I am not aware of them shipping implementations.

"Of course, all WCCP implementations are not equal. WCCP is more of an 'enabling technology,' and 'support' for the protocol doesn't necessarily mean 'utilization of its capabilities to the fullest extent.'"

[Ed. note: LD generously provided a WCCP Primer.]

 

Naturally, questioning the cost of ICS elicited some comment:

[RL (of Novell) wrote] "Seems to me a low-cost cache with some 'overkill in performance' is exactly what most ISPs are looking for. Compaq, Dell, Microbits, Pionex, and Quantex all sell small ICS-based caches in the $2,000 to $5,000 range. Considered as a group, these beat the price performance of everything else on the market—other than a free serving of Squid."

[Ed note: For a hand'-on review of one ICS-based system, see Quantex WebXL 2000]

—End