RiOS v9.1 and later includes the Web proxy feature. Web proxy uses the traditional single-ended Internet HTTP-caching method enhanced by Riverbed for Web browsing methodologies of today. The Web proxy feature enables SteelHeads to provide a localized cache of Web objects and files. The localized cache alleviates the cost of repeated downloads of the same data. Using the Web proxy feature in the branch office provides a significant overall performance increase due to the localized serving of this traffic and content from the cache. Furthermore, multiple users accessing the same resources receive content at LAN speeds while freeing up valuable bandwidth.

Because this is a client-side feature, it is controlled and managed from an SCC. You can configure the in-path rule on the client-side SteelHead running the Web proxy or on the SCC. You must also enable the Web proxy globally on the SCC and add domains to the global HTTPs white list. For more information, see the SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead Deployment Guide, the SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead User’s Guide, and the SteelHead Management Console User’s Guide.

Alternatively, you can enter Riverbed command-line interface commands on the SteelHead to configure the Web proxy without configuring on an SCC. For details, see the Riverbed Command-Line Interface Reference Manual.