Is cache really improve the connection speed?

iamthed · May 13, 2009, 2:16 PM

guys i want to know if u use cache on squid and squid guard, is it make the internet more faster?
if yes.. is cache have really big impact? or juz make a slight faster?

because i have some problem with slow internet connection after i configure squid and squid guard..

thx guys

mhab12 · May 13, 2009, 5:39 PM

We have two bonded T-1s for a total bandwidth of 3mbit/sec. When someone else in our office has already downloaded a file and it is now stored in the cache, we get approximately 64mbit/sec (8MByte/sec). Yes - there is a substantial difference, especially if you have a lot of people accessing the same data/sites.

jigpe · May 14, 2009, 2:20 AM

Same here.Slow internet after installing squid+squidguard. How to delete the cache? ive tried deleting the /var/squid/cache and acl and the log but it crashed. So i re-install the squid. Is there other way? Thanks
jigp
Davao City

iamthed · May 14, 2009, 2:41 AM

@mhab12:

We have two bonded T-1s for a total bandwidth of 3mbit/sec. When someone else in our office has already downloaded a file and it is now stored in the cache, we get approximately 64mbit/sec (8MByte/sec). Yes - there is a substantial difference, especially if you have a lot of people accessing the same data/sites.

i assume u using cache.. but what is ur spec computer?
my spec is..
pentium 4
hdd 20gb
ram 768

i'm affraid my internet is slow because my rom is not that high..
so the PPS(packet per second) is drop because my computer usage is high

jigpe · May 14, 2009, 4:42 AM

Mine is :
P5VD2 VM SE ASUS
Interl core2duo 2.04ghz
1gb ram
160HD sata

jigpd
Davao City

iamthed · May 14, 2009, 6:25 AM

@jigpe:

Mine is :
P5VD2 VM SE ASUS
Interl core2duo 2.04ghz
1gb ram
160HD sata

jigpd
Davao City

wow.. i think that's a waste to put a high speed computer for firewall
cmiiw the firewall only needs a high RAM for data processing..
they don't need a processor like core2duo, quadcore especially hardcore.. lol

well how bout ur internet speed?
mine is 8mbps..

josey · May 14, 2009, 6:59 AM

you said waste ;D

i have amd 6000
2gb ram
2x160gb sata drives in raid :)

i have 6mbps link,
set size of HDD cache to 1gb
ram to 256mb
minimum object size 0
maximum 256kb

how big is your cache?
how did you set it up?

this cache setup is not working for me, i did a test, download file 100mb, when finished, start to download it from another comp, same speed, second comp downloading from internet not from cache

jahonix · May 14, 2009, 7:08 AM

@josey:

minimum object size 0
maximum 256kb
[…] i did a test, download file 100mb,

Obviously, you set the max. size for cached objects smaller than what you were testing with. So it didn't get cached as by your settings.

jigpe · May 14, 2009, 7:32 AM

My net is 2mb up/dl
users: 25
slow inet :(
how to delete cache? old logs too?
i used to delete /var/squid acl/log/cache but same thing..
Is there a way to clear the cache logs?

thanks,
jigp
Davao City

josey · May 14, 2009, 7:40 AM

@jahonix:

@josey:

minimum object size 0
maximum 256kb
[…] i did a test, download file 100mb,

Obviously, you set the max. size for cached objects smaller than what you were testing with. So it didn't get cached as by your settings.

no, no, no
one file of 100mb is made of hundreds or more packages!
this is got nothing to do with it.
or do have?

then pfs have wrong description :) on package size :)
"Maximum object size xxx kb
Objects larger than the size specified (in kilobytes) will not be saved on disk. If you wish to increase speed more than you want to save bandwidth, this should be set to a low value. "

to low? no logic at all… it should be contrary?

how large package size did you set?

jigpe · May 14, 2009, 8:04 AM

thanks for the quick reply.i set 980970.

thanks,
jigp
Davao City

josey · May 14, 2009, 8:39 AM

@jigpe:

thanks for the quick reply**.i set 980970.**

thanks,
jigp
Davao City

you set 980970kb ? for object size ?

jigpe · May 14, 2009, 9:49 AM

Yup for object size.

jigp
Davao City

iamthed · May 14, 2009, 2:46 PM

i'm confuse about cache..
cmiiw cache in this pfsense is it the same cache as the browser cache? e.g opera,mozzila or chrome?

so tell me what is the best setting for minimum object size and maximum?
my hdd only 20gb do u think it will last long ??
what happen if my cache is overload?

mhab12 · May 14, 2009, 3:02 PM

The cache is similar to a browser cache, except that it is stored on the server and not on the individual workstation - this way everyone benefits from data that has already been stored. If you set the maximum object size to something like 256MB and min to zero, you will catch nearly all web traffic and most windows updates, application downloads, etc. Just set your max cache size to 10 GB (you mentioned you have a 20GB HD) and it will never 'overload' or fill up completely.

iamthed · May 14, 2009, 3:06 PM

@mhab12:

The cache is similar to a browser cache, except that it is stored on the server and not on the individual workstation - this way everyone benefits from data that has already been stored. If you set the maximum object size to something like 256MB and min to zero, you will catch nearly all web traffic and most windows updates, application downloads, etc. Just set your max cache size to 10 GB (you mentioned you have a 20GB HD) and it will never 'overload' or fill up completely.

thx for quick replay then if i'm using max cache size 10gb so the cache will stop working after 10gb right?
and should i delete cache?
or leave it behind?

and one dumb question
if i'm not enable the transparent proxy or proxy is the cache working?

josey · May 14, 2009, 3:59 PM

i finally get this….
explanation in pfs is wrong then
"Objects larger than the size specified (in kilobytes) will not be saved on disk. If you wish to increase speed more than you want to save bandwidth, this should be set to a low value."

ok i have 2gb ram, 120gb hdd, and i was playing this morning with cache,

setup
HDD cache size 1000MB
Memory cache size 512MB
Minimum object size 100kb
Maximum object size 50 000kb

and after test download, file od 40mb downloaded in 1 sec :)

but, how to clean cache?
is it automatic? oldest object deleted for new objects? or how ?

thanks

jahonix · May 14, 2009, 7:19 PM

@josey:

Minimum object size 100kb

Why don't you cache smaller objects as well?
The background image of this forum is: 1.14 KB (1169 Bytes) and isn't cached with your settings.

@josey:

but, how to clean cache?
is it automatic? oldest object deleted for new objects? or how ?

Yes. Just leave it alone and let it do it's magic.

mhab12 · May 14, 2009, 10:23 PM

@josey:

oldest object deleted for new objects? or how ?

Go to the 'cache management tab' and read about Cache replacement policy and Memory replacement policy - it's more than you ever wanted to know.

josey · May 15, 2009, 5:39 AM

thnx guys i figure it up yesterday :)

set up
hard disck cache size 100GB
hard disk cache system UFS
memory cache size 1GB
minimum object size 0
maximum object size 1GB
memory replacement policy Heap LFUDA

now internet is "fast" like i have 100mbps instead 6mbps :D
it works just great

great product guys, keep up with good work