HTTP automatic configuration helps optimize how the SteelHead appliance handles web traffic. It automatically applies the best combination of features—like URL Learning, Parse and Prefetch, and Object Prefetch—for specific HTTP server subnets or hosts. These automatically configured items show up in the Subnet or Host list.

SteelHead identifies these subnets and hostnames by analyzing HTTP request headers and tracking traffic patterns, especially for servers that don't already match existing rules. If you disable this feature, the items disappear from the list, but they aren’t deleted. They’re stored in the background and will reappear with their previous settings if you re-enable the feature.

For secure traffic requiring authentication, Kerberos is supported. The feature also allows tuning and optimization based on individual hosts or subnets.

We recommend that you enable these options:

Maintains persistent connections. This option is often disabled, even when the web server can support it. This is especially true for Apache web servers that serve HTTPS to Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers.