Network and Storage Protocols

Branchcache Support

simoneyre
7,057 Views

I'm trying to figure out if NetApp is supporting the new Windows 7/2008 Branchcache Function. There is some marketing material from NetApp and Microsoft that seems to indicate it is compatible, but there is certainly no implementation notes on NOW. I spoke to NetApp Support who didn't seem fully aware of branchcache (or if they were - they are confirming it is not compatible and would require a Windows 2008 File Server with LUNs).

Does anyone else have any insight into NetApp and Branchcache?

Thanks all,

S

10 REPLIES 10

reena
7,008 Views

NetApp doesn’t support BranchCache yet, it’s on our roadmap to support in the future ONTAP release.

Reena

c_beseler
7,008 Views

Hi Reena,

is branch cache now supported on ONTAP ??

Regards,

Claudius

dmorris
7,007 Views

I would also like to know if BranchCache is supported by ONTAP 8 now?  I can't seem to find much on it except a couple presentations say that a NetApp filer can be used, but I am unsure if they are talking about using CIFS directly from a NetApp or if they are talking about a Windows 2008 R2 Server connected to a LUN on a NetApp and the fileserver sharing the data instead of using CIFS directly from the filer.  Of course the LUN way will work, but I don't want to have to run a VM just to share files when my filer already can do that.

vmsjaak13
7,007 Views

Same here: I'd like to know the status of branchcache as well.

Regards,

Niek

s_pellegrino
7,008 Views

Same again, is there any support yet or support for future release?

Regards,

Sylvain

pspringfield
7,008 Views

I've just, today, had the question posed by a customer. I think NetApp need to answer the question frankly.

Kindest Regards,

Pete Springfield

Update:

I received the folliwing response from a very helpful NetApp person. I hope there is no objection to me pasting it in here to assist with the queries above. As an employee of Avnet, I ought to add the formality that I can't aford to compromise copyright so if you don't have permission to retrieve these documents, consult your NetApp reseller partner.

"

Data ONTAP does not support yet MS BranchCache. It will be supported in future releases but unfortunatly I cannot tell you when exactly. If you have the right permission, in the following presentation  you can find interesting information about future NetApp solutions which include also MS BranchCache.

https://fieldportal.netapp.com/viewcontent.asp?qv=1&docid=30559

As you might already know, NetApp has a similar product named FlexCache. In case you have never heard of it, I send you also a presentation to get an overview about FlexCache.

https://fieldportal.netapp.com/viewcontent.asp?qv=1&docid=11034"

toddgray
7,007 Views

I realize this is an old post, but I wanted to provide an update.  Microsoft Branchcache is supported in Data ONTAP 8.1.1 in both modes today.  Below is a link to a recent NetApp Technical Report providing more detail:

https://fieldportal.netapp.com/Core/DownloadDoc.aspx?documentID=73728&contentID=76049

kodavali
7,007 Views

Small correction. BranchCache is supported in 8.1.1 but only in 7-mode. in 8.2 it is supported in C-Mode as well.

pspringfield
7,007 Views

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply to this old thread, this was of interest to me too. Would you be kind enough to post the actual document title, I can't access that link so I'll try a Field Portal search instead.

Regards,

Pete Springfield (Avnet)

sam_wozniak
5,170 Views

I just learned of the "CIFS branchcache" today when joining a new FAS2240 running 8.1.1 to AD.  At the very end of cifs setup, I got the message "can’t set cifs branchcache server secret".  I'll have to read up on this "branchcache"...

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