Proxy server caching is used to save frequently accessed content, reducing the time it takes for users to access it. There are two types of caching: passive and active. Cached objects need to be updated regularly, and the server keeps a log of actions. However, if the server has too little space for caching, it can hurt network performance.
Proxy server caching is used to reduce the time it takes for users on computer networks to access content on the Internet. When network administrators enable caching, the proxy server will save frequently accessed content so that you don’t have to download content from the Internet every time a user requests it. When a user types a web address into a web browser, the request goes to the proxy server, which searches its cache for the specified material. If you cannot find the requested information, please submit a request to the Internet. This can save bandwidth and reduce the time the user has to wait for content.
Proxy servers can use passive and active proxy server caching to cache content. When a proxy server cannot find a requested website in its cache and then downloads a fresh copy from a web server, it performs passive caching. Active caching occurs when the proxy server is down and caches websites that users on your network access frequently. By enabling active caching, network administrators can ensure that the proxy server has a fresh copy of the content. A disadvantage of active caching is that it can require more bandwidth and may not be suitable for servers that have bandwidth limitations or required downtime.
The data stored by proxy server caching is not persistent and needs to be updated regularly to ensure that users get the latest version of the content. Although cached objects need to be updated as website content changes, they also expire. When an item expires, the proxy server checks with the web server to get information about the latest version of the content. If there is a change, it will download a new copy; otherwise, you don’t need to download the content again and just update the expiration date. Proxy servers keep a log of these actions so that administrators can view how often the server gets new content and how often users access content directly from the cache.
Proxy server caching has a disadvantage in that it can sometimes hurt network performance. If the network administrator allocates too little space on the server for caching, the server will have to continue evicting items from the cache. Items that are the least used or expire early are usually removed first to make room for more items when the need arises.
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