BranchCache

Since Configuration Manager 2007 SP2, distribution points also support a feature of Windows Server 2008 R2 called BranchCache. BranchCache is used to reduce WAN utilization and enhance access to content at the central office from branch office locations. When BranchCache is enabled, a copy of content retrieved from a server is cached in the branch office. When someone else wants to retrieve the same content, the client will retrieve the content from the cache available in the branch office; this way the WAN is not used to get the content again from the centrally located server. This BranchCache feature caches HTTP, HTTPS, BITS, or SMBbased content on both distributed cache and local cache locations. A distributed cache is a cache location on a Windows 7 client that is configured to use BranchCache. A local cache is a location on a Windows 2008 R2 server in the branch office where BranchCache is enabled.

Figure : Managing the content on the distribution point

There is no special configuration option in Configuration Manager 2012 to enable BranchCache since it is not a feature of Configuration Manager 2012. The only thing you need to configure is that your deployments are enabled for downloading and running the applications locally. BranchCache is often used in WAN environments with a lot of latency and with slow data links between the sites.

BranchCache works only in a combination of Windows 7 clients and Windows Server 2008 R2.