Web Caching and Replication

Chapter 17. Adding Value at the Edge

Our discussion so far has focused on the performance benefits of caching and replication. However, the role of forward proxies and surrogates can extend beyond performance. As focal points of Web traffic at the edge of the network, they provide an opportunity to implement a variety of services that would not otherwise be feasible. In other words, proxies and surrogates stop being viewed as just performance boosters but rather as a platform for implementing various value-added functions. The idea of using a proxy for value-added services was actually put forward quite early by Brooks et al. [1995]. This chapter examines some important but often overlooked benefits of proxies and surrogates, which are often ...