Pull DP with Dedup and Branchcache

Question

Hi, we're trying to use Branchcache on PullDPs with Dedup enabled to speed up the content distribution from source DP to Pull DP like mentionned here:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/core-infrastructure-and-security/speed-up-content-distribution-with-pulldps-and-branchcache/ba-p/615516

We have enabled brachcache via the configMgr UI and dedup on both the source and destination DPs.

We distributed a Wim file from the source DP to the destination Pull DP and we then distributed another WIM image (same windows 10 build, but with updates included) while monitoring the branchcache usage with the script in the post and also with the BCMon tool from 2pints:
https://2pintsoftware.com/products/branchcache-monitor/

We didn't see any Branchcache usage and would like to know if anybody was able to implement this and have some insights on what we might have missed.

Thank you in advance and don't hesitate if you have any questions

Answer 1

Hi @lalanc01 ,

As we know, no easy way of monitoring what content is cached, it is better to use Operations Manager to monitor branch cache, which supports the workloads of Branch Cache.

Here is the article to refer to it:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/system-center/scom/manage-mp-mpassessment?view=sc-om-2019#supported-workloads

And the link about System Center Monitoring Pack for Configuration Manager is listed below:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34709

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Answer 2

There are 2 ways, BranchCache and PeerCache.

Branch cache is Windows feature and Peer cache is SCCM feature.

Assuming you have done all the pre-requisites and configuration correctly.
In my experience branch cache works, when you deploy the package to a small group of PCs ahead of time. So that those PCs act as a source for other PCs in that subnet.

Also having both Peer cache and Branch cache at the same time works too.