[squid-users] Recommendations for a fast cache with Squid+WCCP2

Hi Cache-ists,

I hate to ask this question again, as I faintly can recall something
like it being asked, but allow me to ask just to be sure.

Now that I know how to get COSS working, I'd like to build a "good"
cache using Squid 2.6STABLE4 (well, STABLE5 if it gets to the ports
soon).

I intend to use WCCP2, which I am not familiar with, but thanks to
Adrian, I have seen the following example configurations:

http://wiki.squid-cache.org/ConfigExamples/MultiplePortsWithWccp2?highlight=%28configex%29
http://wiki.squid-cache.org/ConfigExamples/NatAndWccp2?highlight=%28configex%29

I am going to share with our network engineers who man the
Cisco routers. I have never touched this WCCP stuff so I have absolutely
no idea about it, except for what I have seen being discussed.

I have also read a very nice article, though Linux-centric, about
building a high performance cache using squid:

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Administration/High-Performance-Web-Caching-With-Squid/2/

... but I live on the other side ... the BSD side ;)

Basically, we are going to try and save bandwidth by using the cache.
It's important that it performs, so that customers don't start
quarrelling with us about slow speeds.

We have a few thousand clients on our network (196.200.32.0/20 and
62.8.64.0/19). Not all subnets are used though, but the intention
is to have all the active subnets on the cache. Generally, my intention
is build a large, reliable, fast cache.

I have a few questions:

1. What is the difference between using transparent interception, for
   example via a IPNAT, and using WCCP?

I am familiar with transparent proxy and I know it doesn't play well with https.
How about a WCCP implementation?

2. Would WCCP method be the recommended path? Why? (this Q seems
   redundant, yes?)

3. What hardware recommendations would you give for such a large
   network?? CPU, RAM, Disks?
   Would a RAID array do? Or would caches spread over several single
   disks do better?

4. Would COSS be a good choice, or should I stick to aufs for this one?

Thank you in advance.

-Wash

http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html

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