Driven by challenges of reducing the costs and complexity of Branch IT, organisations are seeking to centralise applications. However, as organisations centralise applications, the dependency on the availability and quality of the wide-area network (WAN) link increases. The increased utilisation of the WAN link is a direct result of centralisation, as is the degradation of application performance. Recent studies have shown that despite the reduction of costs associated with WAN links, WAN costs are still a major component of enterprises' operational expenses. In the UK the development of centralised computing has been hindered by poor broadband speeds and a lack of understanding. However with low cost bonded broadband solutions and "Branch Cache" technology in the latest Microsoft Servers the answer is here.
BranchCache in the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems can help increase network responsiveness of centralised applications when accessed from remote offices, giving users in those offices the experience of working on your local area network. BranchCache also helps reduce WAN utilization. When BranchCache is enabled, a copy of data accessed from intranet Web and file servers is cached locally within the branch office. When another client on the same network requests the file, the client downloads it from the local cache without downloading the same content across the WAN.
BranchCache can operate in one of two modes:
Distributed Cache. Using a peer-to-peer architecture, Windows 7 client computers cache copies of files and send them directly to other Windows 7 client computers, as needed. Improving performance is as easy as enabling BranchCache on your Windows 7 client and Windows Server 2008 R2-based computers. Distributed Cache is especially beneficial for branch offices that do not have a local server.
Hosted Cache. Using a client/server architecture, Windows 7 client computers cache content to a computer on the local network running Windows Server 2008 R2, known as the Hosted Cache. Other clients who need the same content retrieve it directly from the Hosted Cache. The Hosted Cache computer can run the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2 and can also host other applications.
The following diagram illustrates these two modes:
BranchCache can improve the performance of applications that use one of the following protocols:
HTTP and HTTPS. The protocols used by Web browsers and many other applications, such as Internet Explorer or Windows Media, among others
SMB (including signed SMB traffic). The protocol used for shared folders
BranchCache only retrieves data from a server when the client requests it. Because it is a passive cache, it will not increase WAN utilization. BranchCache only caches read requests and thus will not interfere with a user saving a file.
BranchCache improves the responsiveness of common network applications that access intranet servers across slow links. Because it does not require any infrastructure, you can improve the performance of remote networks simply by deploying Windows 7 to client computers, deploying Windows Server 2008 R2 to server computers, and enabling BranchCache.
BranchCache works seamlessly alongside network security technologies, including SSL, SMB Signing, and end-to-end IPsec. You can use BranchCache to reduce network bandwidth utilization and to improve application performance, even if the content is encrypted.
Please call Care Micro on 0845 1226898 or email us via our Contact Us page for all your network maintenance needs.
Care Micro: We're lovers of completely upgradable network topology
Last Updated on Monday, 08 February 2010 10:23
Care Micro - Training for the future
Written by Paul Ffelan
Friday, 05 February 2010 09:11
Train to Gain!
Care Micro has once again seen it's in house training program bear fruit - Cementing our relationship with Microsoft the team has achieved or is completeing in the next few days the following qualifications:
Craig Marsden - MCITP Enterprise ( Microsoft Certified I.T. Professional )
Richard Wilde - MCTS - ( Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist ) Will be MCITP Enterprise within 7 days.
Paul ffelan - MLSE ( Microsoft Licensing and Software Expert )
Given over 90% of the rest of the team hold Microsoft and Cisco qualifications already this leaves Care Micro in a priviliged position to deliver IT support in the UK.
Last Updated on Friday, 05 February 2010 09:20
Microsoft Online Services from CMSL how much could you save?
Written by Web Manager
Thursday, 04 February 2010 23:33
See how much you could save!
Microsoft Online Services gives your business the powerful productivity capabilities of Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server, Microsoft Office Communications Server, and Microsoft Office Live Meeting -all hosted online and all up and running quickly and easily without the upfront costs of an on-premises deployment
The suite of productivity tools enables your workers to communicate and collaborate effectively, while enabling your IT team to focus on more business-critical tasks. And with services hosted by Microsoft, you can have peace of mind knowing that experts are managing your IT and that your services will be available when you need them.
Default 5-GB mailbox per each user; mailboxes can be configured up to 25 GB
E-mail, shared calendar, shared tasks, and contacts
Spam filtering and antivirus capabilities via Microsoft Forefront Online Security for Exchange
Support for Microsoft Office Outlook®, Outlook Anywhere, and Outlook Web Access
Support for Windows Mobile® 6.0 devices and other Exchange ActiveSync® 12 devices
Low-cost "deskless worker" offer for workers who use a PC and messaging services on a limited basis
Portal, collaboration, content management, site search, and forms capabilities
Single location to share documents, contacts, calendars, and tasks
Offline access to documents on the service from Outlook
Roll-up views of calendars and tasks across multiple lists and sites
Blog site templates that support article posting, reader comments, and RSS feed generation
Low-cost "deskless worker" offer for workers who use a PC and collaboration services on a limited basis
Web client support for remote attendee flexibility
Interactive application/desktop sharing and whiteboard tools
Active speaker video switching, multi-party video, and multi-party VoIP/ audio
Rich media presentations, native video conferencing, high-fidelity recording, and Web cam capabilities
Instant messaging with text based chat using Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 client
Seamless presence awareness enabling users to check another user's availability on the network
Presence information shared across Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook and SharePoint sites
Users can connect directly to the service over the Internet without RAS or VPN connections
Contact us to set up your Cost effective Online Services Today!
Microsoft recently announced a huge surge in the number of UK consumers reporting incidents where they have unknowingly been sold counterfeit software some of which were riddled with viruses or malware. To coincide with Consumer Action Day, they have announced settlements with four UK computer resellers who have been caught selling illegal software in the last six months. These include Clarion Computers based in Swansea, South Wales; Surf-IT Computers Limited based in Farnborough, Hampshire; Little Laptop Shop based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and Custom PC Shop based in Telford, Shropshire.
We are committed to stamping out unfair competition and ask you to continue to feedback if you or any of your customers are affected by software piracy.
In the mean time enusre your license's are correct - Call us for a free Licensing check
Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 23:23
Network upgrade with high-speed internet line
Written by Web Manager
Sunday, 12 July 2009 19:42
Care Micro completes a network upgrade by installing a high-speed internet line.
Duraweld, located in Scarborough, is a manufacturer of customised presentation packaging and printer products. As a Care Micro Systems' customer we have successfully completed a major project to upgrade and develop Duraweld's IT systems which integrate into a new order processing system.
Care Micro wins a 24/7 hardware maintenance cover with a difference.
Care Micro has been successful in securing a "round the clock" support contract for Premiere Global Services, a worldwide eMarketing and Communications company whose head office is in New Jersey, USA.
0845-122-6898
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please contact Amy for all general enquiries, and for your sales, service and support emails to Care Micro
News from Care Micro
