Introduction to Microsoft Connected Cache:

Microsoft Connected Cache is a software-only caching solution designed to optimize the delivery of Microsoft content within networks. It’s a free service. It’s particularly beneficial for environments managed by Microsoft Intune, as it can significantly reduce bandwidth consumption and improve the speed of content delivery. Microsoft Connected Cache is currently a preview feature. For more information, see Supplemental Terms of Use for Microsoft Azure Previews

Benefits for Microsoft Intune:

When integrated with Microsoft Intune, Connected Cache can:

  • Reduce Bandwidth Usage: By caching content locally, it minimizes the need to download the same content multiple times from the internet.
  • Improve Delivery Speed: Content is delivered from a local cache, which is faster than downloading from remote servers.
  • Enhance User Experience: End-users experience quicker installations and updates, leading to less downtime and increased productivity.
  • Cost Savings: Lower bandwidth usage can result in reduced costs, especially in environments with metered or limited internet connections.

Implementation:

  1. Prepare the Environment:

    • Ensure your server meets the requirements for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
    • Verify internet access to Microsoft cloud and required endpoints.

  2. Install Azure IoT Edge:

    Follow the Azure IoT Edge installation guide for Linux: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/iot-edge/quickstart-linux?view=iotedge-1.5

  3. Deploy the Connected Cache Module:

    • Use the Azure portal or CLI to create cache nodes and configure deployments.
    • Deploy the Connected Cache module to your IoT Edge device.

  4. Configure Client Settings in Intune:

    • In the Intune admin center, create a device configuration profile.
    • Set the Delivery Optimization settings to use the Connected Cache server.

  5. Verify the Deployment:

    • Check the Connected Cache node to ensure it’s caching content.
    • Monitor client devices to confirm they are retrieving content from the cache.

  6. Monitor and Maintain:

    • Use the Azure portal to monitor the performance and usage of the Connected Cache.
    • Perform regular maintenance and updates as needed.

Conclusion:

Microsoft Connected Cache is a powerful implementation that can enhance the content delivery in environments managed by e.g. Microsoft Intune. It reduces bandwidth usage, speeds up content delivery, and gives an improved user experience. For more detailed information, refer to the official Microsoft Connected Cache documentation.

 

Paul Cobben