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Chapter 43 Configuring Web Cache Services By Using WCCP
Understanding WCCP
Understanding WCCP
The WCCP and Cisco cache engines (or other application engines running WCCP) localize traffic
patterns in the network, enabling content requests to be fulfilled locally.
WCCP enables supported Cisco routers and switches to transparently redirect content requests. With
transparent redirection, users do not have to configure their browsers to use a web proxy. Instead, they
can use the target URL to request content, and their requests are automatically redirected to an
application engine. The word
transparent
means that the end user does not know that a requested file
(such as a web page) came from the application engine instead of from the originally specified server.
When an application engine receives a request, it attempts to service it from its own local cache. If the
requested information is not present, the application engine sends a separate request to the end server to
retrieve the requested information. After receiving the requested information, the application engine
forwards it to the requesting client and also caches it to fulfill future requests.
With WCCP, the application-engine cluster (a series of application engines) can service multiple routers
or switches, as shown
Figure 43-1
Cisco Cache Engine and WCCP Network Configuration
Router A
Source
Receiver
Router C
RP
Router B
Shared tree
from RP
Source tree
(shortest
path tree)
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