Cable Forum - View Single Post - Proxy back on poplar

Matth · 16-09-2006, 13:20

And back off again, thought performance was storming today

- What are (poplar) Proxies?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...trancache.html

The transparent proxies intercept traffic, and cache it, theoretically reducing network load while improving response on those pages which are already cached. For any page not already cached, the effect of the proxy is always negative, as it is an extra step in the chain (a "cache miss").

That's the theory.

The PRACTICE!
1. NTL's proxies are just not that good at the best of times - the old Inktomi's had one set of problems, while the newer Netapps have another.
2. The spreading of sites (by IP) across a set of 4-10 proxies, gives rise to confusing blocks of sites appearing to be down or responding poorly, when one of the proxies is malfunctioning.
3. For any sites that do not dig beyond the proxy IP, everyone in the same area is effectively on one IP - the "rapidshare" problem, among others.

Proxies CAN work, but they need to be working a hell of a lot better than they are.

16-09-2006, 13:20	#3
Matth Inactive Join Date: Mar 2004 Services: BB:M, TV:XL, Phone:M, Loyalty Posts: 2,516	Re: Proxy back on poplar - AWFUL! And back off again, thought performance was storming today - What are (poplar) Proxies? http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...trancache.html The transparent proxies intercept traffic, and cache it, theoretically reducing network load while improving response on those pages which are already cached. For any page not already cached, the effect of the proxy is always negative, as it is an extra step in the chain (a "cache miss"). That's the theory. The PRACTICE! 1. NTL's proxies are just not that good at the best of times - the old Inktomi's had one set of problems, while the newer Netapps have another. 2. The spreading of sites (by IP) across a set of 4-10 proxies, gives rise to confusing blocks of sites appearing to be down or responding poorly, when one of the proxies is malfunctioning. 3. For any sites that do not dig beyond the proxy IP, everyone in the same area is effectively on one IP - the "rapidshare" problem, among others. Proxies CAN work, but they need to be working a hell of a lot better than they are.