How to Setup BranchCache

How to Setup BranchCache

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Guide:  

Quick and Easy BranchCache Setup.

Overview:  

 This article provides instructions on how to implement BranchCache.

Topology:  

  • Three office locations:  
    • Primary office in Atlanta (ATL).   
    • Branch offices in Chicago (CHI) and Washington D.C (DCA).
  • CHI and ATL host local file servers (i.e., hosted cache mode).
  • DCA is the only office without a dedicated file server (i.e., distributed cache mode).
  • All clients use Windows Enterprise.
      


Implement BranchCache:

  • Install the BranchCache Role and Feature.
  • BranchCace SSL Certificates.  
  • BranchCache Group policy.

Step 1.  Add Roles and Features.

Run the Add Roles and Features Wizard on each file server.  Install the (a) BranchCache for Network Files Role; and (b)the BranchCache Feature.
PowerShell:
Install-WindowsFeature BranchCache -IncludeManagementTools Enable-BCHostedServer -RegisterSCP

Step 2.  Adjust Caching.

BranchCache stores files in two directories:  (a) HashCache and (b) DataCache.
File servers store file hashes in the HashCache directory.  Remote Hosted Cache servers, as well as Distributed Cache clients, use files hashes for content tracking and updates.

The DataCache directory stores content derived from the hash.  This directory contains cached remote content (i.e., files) that are served to local clients.  Both directories are stored on the system drive -not good!

Adjust the Cache Location:

netsh branchcache set publicationcache directory=D:\BranchCache\ netsh branchcache set localcache directory=D:\LocalCache\

The default HashCache size is a measly 1% of the system disk.  The Data Cache is slightly improved with 5% of total disk.  Now consider that most system drives hold less that than 100GB.  5GB does not provide enough storage to make BrachCache worthwhile.  Let's make BrachCache useful:

Adjust the Cache Size:

Netsh branchcache set publicationcachesize size=5 percent=TRUE Netsh branchcache set localcachesize size=5 percent=TRUE
Additional caching attributes will be configured via Group Policy (Step 4).

Step 3. BranchCache SSL

BranchCache SSL certificates support Windows 7 clients.  It's not necessary for organizations with only Windows 8 or Windows 10 clients.  Of course, the file server will probably require certificates for other services -just not BranchCache.
Any trusted SSL certificate will work with BranchCache.  We simply need to associate the server certificate with BranchCache:  
  1. Add a server certificate in the personal certificate directory for each  BranchCache hosted cache server (e.g., ATL and CHI).
  2. Bind the SSL certificate hash (i.e., thumbprint) to the hosted cache server.  Use the following command: NETSH HTTP ADD SSLCERT IPPORT=0.0.0.0:443 CERTHASH=xxxxxxxxxxx APPID={d673f5ee-a714-454d-8de2-492e4c1bd8f8}
    N.B.,  CERTHASH is the certificate's thumbprint.  Further certificate information found here.

Step 4.  Group Policy

Use Group Policies to adjust caching attributes and client settings.

Policies for the File Servers:  

Table 1.  BranchCache Policy for File Servers.

Policy
Path
Setting
Function
Turn on BranchCache
ComputerConfiguration/
  Administrative Templates/
  Network/
   BranchCache
Enabled
Hash Publication for BranchCache
ComputerConfiguration/
Administrative Templates/  Network/
LanmanServer
Enabled:
Value 2
(Hash publication for all shared folders).
MinContentLength Registry Key
ComputerConfiguration/
Preferences/
Windows Settings/
Registry/
MinContentLength
Reg_D
WORD:

32768
(Decimal)
Default caching 64KB. 
New caching 32K.
Set as low as 4KB. 

N.B., Low values may impact performance.

Policies for Windows clients:
Table 2.  BranchCache policies for Win 8 and Win 10:
Policy
Path
Setting
Turn on BranchCache
ComputerConfiguration/
 Administrative Templates/
  Network/BranchCache
Enabled
Configure BranchCache for network files
Computer Configuration/
 Administrative Templates/
  Network/
   BranchCache
Enabled
Value:10
Enable Automatic Hosted Cache Discovery by Service Connection Point
Computer Configuration/
 Administrative Templates/
  Network/
   BranchCache
Enabled
Set BranchCache Distributed Cache mode
Computer Configuration/
 Administrative Templates/
   Network/
    BranchCache
Enabled
Note:  BranchCache for network files uses round trip latency.  Value 10 = 10ms.  Hosted Cache mode is for location with dedicated file servers.  Distributed Caching is for locations without dedicated file servers.

BranchCache Firewall Policies:

     BranchCache requires inbound and outbound client firewall rules.
Table 3.  BranchCache Inbound Firewall Group Policies
Policy
Path
Action
BranchCache Content Retrieval (HTTP-In)
Computer Configuration/
  Policies/
   Windows  Settings/
    Security Settings/
     Windows Firewall with
      Advanced Security/
       Inbound Rules
a. Right-click Inbound Rules. 

b. Left-click New Rule.    

c. Add predefined BranchCache rules.
BranchCache Hosted Cache Server (HTTP-In)
BranchCache Peer Discovery (WSD-In)
BranchCache Content Retrieval (HTTP-Out)
Computer Configuration/
  Policies/
   Windows  Settings/
    Security Settings/
     Windows Firewall with
      Advanced Security/
       Outbound Rules
a. Right-click Inbound Rules.
  
b. Left-click New Rule.

c. Add predefined BranchCache rules.
BranchCache Hosted Cache Clietnt (HTTP-Out)
BranchCache Hosted Cache Server (HTTP-Out)
BranchCache Peer Discovery (WSD-Out)

Optional:  BranchCache for WSUS and IIS Servers


BranchCache also accelerates content for web servers and BITS application servers.  Simply install the BranchCache feature and ensure the service is running.  No other configuration steps are necessary.  

Evaluate

User PowerShell and Performance monitor to ensure BranchCache works:
That's It!

References:

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