Branchcache Support

[simoneyre]

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

[reena]

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

Reena

[c_beseler]

Hi Reena,

is branch cache now supported on ONTAP ??

Regards,

Claudius

[dmorris]

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]

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

Regards,

Niek

[s_pellegrino]

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

Regards,

Sylvain

[pspringfield]

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]

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]

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]

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)