Branchcache Support

simoneyre · ‎2010-08-11

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 · ‎2010-08-11

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

Reena

c_beseler · ‎2011-04-15

Hi Reena,

is branch cache now supported on ONTAP ??

Regards,

Claudius

dmorris · ‎2011-07-18

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 · ‎2011-07-19

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

Regards,

Niek

s_pellegrino · ‎2011-08-10

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

Regards,

Sylvain

pspringfield · ‎2011-08-24

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 · ‎2012-09-04

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 · ‎2012-09-04

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 · ‎2012-09-05

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 · ‎2012-09-07

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"...