Branchcache: could not see the data read from cache on the client side.

Question

Hello,

I have followed https://newhelptech.wordpress.com/2018/09/01/step-by-step-how-to-install-an-configure-branchcache-in-windows-server-2016/ and setup branchcache for the smb shares on windows 2019 server.

I did copy some files from the share to the local drive from multiple clients which are configured as member server in distributed mode.
Still i dont see the performance counters show any value for the data read from server or cache.

I am not sure what i am missing. Any help in exactly how can i test the SMB branchcache feature would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Answer 1

Hello @Priya ,

Thanks for your query.

1.Please look at the CSC Perfmon Counters too - BranchCache in SMB mode relies on Offline Files and perfmon doesn't always reflect the true state of things (as you have seen) due to some 'intelligent' read-ahead caching that goes on.
Look under Client Side Caching - SMB BranchCache * there are about 7-8 counters
BranchCache somtimes will not report in Perfmon : https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/azure/en-US/484c18a2-d11b-411b-84f1-cae7f0bfda68/branchcache-somtimes-will-not-report-in-perfmon?forum=windowsserver2008r2branchoffice

2.To test a BranchCache server deployment, you must access content three times: one to generate identifiers, a second to download and cache content, and a third to test retrieval from the cache. It is best to test with three separate BranchCache-enabled client computers. If you test with fewer than three client computers, be sure to clear any application level caches between content accesses (for example, the Internet Explorer cache). It is also good practice to clear the cache on all client computers using the netsh branchcache flush command before testing.
Configuring a web server to use BranchCache : https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/68573f86-4626-4e8b-b3c9-d0b455a50ad3/configuring-a-web-server-to-use-branchcache?forum=windowsserver2008r2branchoffice

3.BranchCache - Hosted setup not working: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2108329-branchcache-hosted-setup-not-working-at-my-ropes-end

4.Windows BranchCache deep dive: https://blog.ahasayen.com/what-is-branchcache/

Best regards,
Leila

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Answer 2

Thanks Lelila. I will go through the links provided and get back to you. Thanks!

Answer 3

Thanks Lelila, After I have used WIndows 10 Enterprise edition as a client, it worked.