Set up Fast Response Cache Accelerator (FRCA) for HTTP Server (powered by Apache)

This topic provides information about how to set up FRCA for your HTTP Server with the IBM® Web Administration for i5/OS™ interface.

Important: Information for this topic supports the latest PTF levels for HTTP Server for i5/OS . It is recommended that you install the latest PTFs to upgrade to the latest level of the HTTP Server for i5/OS. Some of the topics documented here are not available prior to this update. See http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/software/http/services/service.htm Link outside Information Center for more information.

The following explains how to enable FRCA, FRCA logging, and FRCA file caching. See Fast Response Cache Accelerator (FRCA) for HTTP Server (powered by Apache) for more information.

FRCA is a Web cache architecture that is tightly integrated with the TCP/IP stack. FRCA moves performance critical TCP Application functions into a fast response cache that improves HTTP Server performance.

Parent topic: Fast Response Cache Accelerator tasks

Enable FRCA

Note: The following information may be used to enable FRCA for the first time or enable FRCA for a different Server area.
  1. Click the Manage tab.
  2. Click the HTTP Servers subtab.
  3. Select your HTTP Server (powered by Apache) from the Server list.
  4. Select the context you want to work with from the Server area list.
  5. Expand Server Properties.
  6. Click FRCA.
  7. Click the General Settings tab in the form.
  8. Click Add under the Server IP addresses and ports to listen on table.
  9. Enter an IP address and port number or select an existing IP address and port. FRCA will listen on the IP address and port you specify.
  10. Select Enabled from the list under the FRCA column.
  11. Click Continue.
  12. Click Apply.
  13. Stop and restart your server.

FRCA is now enabled. After enabling FRCA, you can set up logs and file caching.

Enable FRCA logging

FRCA logging information allows you to track and generate reports on your HTTP Server's activity. You may specify various log attributes, such as the format for the information in the log file, rules for excluding entries from the log file, and client side information logging. Each server configuration file contains information about the type of log files the server will create. You must enable FRCA before FRCA logging can be set up. See Set up logs on HTTP Server (powered by Apache) for more information.

  1. Click the Manage tab.
  2. Click the HTTP Servers subtab.
  3. Select your HTTP Server (powered by Apache) from the Server list.
  4. Select the context you want to work with from the Server area list.
  5. Expand Server Properties.
  6. Click FRCA.
  7. Click the FRCA Logs tab in the form.
  8. Click Add under the FRCA logs table.
  9. Enter the name of the log file you want to use.
  10. Enter the log attributes under the Attributes column.
  11. Click Continue.
  12. Click OK.
  13. Stop and restart your server.

Enable FRCA file caching

FRCA provides file caching support. You may specify the maximum cache size, the maximum file size to cache, the files to cache during server startup, and the directories to dynamically cache files from. You must enable FRCA before FRCA file caching can be set up.

  1. Click the Manage tab.
  2. Click the HTTP Servers subtab.
  3. Select your HTTP Server (powered by Apache) from the Server list.
  4. Select the context you want to work with from the Server area list.
  5. Expand Server Properties.
  6. Click FRCA.
  7. Click the FRCA File Cache tab in the form.
  8. Select Enabled from the FRCA file cache capabilities list.
  9. Enter a new value for Maximum cache size and select corresponding size unit, or keep the default value.
  10. Enter a new value for Maximum file size to cache and select the corresponding size unit, or keep the default value.
  11. Click Add under the Files to cache during server startup table to add file types or specific files to cache at HTTP Server startup.
  12. Click Continue when finished adding files to table.
  13. Click Add under the Files to cache during server runtime table to add file types or specific files to cache during HTTP Server runtime.
  14. Click Continue when finished adding files to table.
  15. Click OK.
  16. Stop and restart your server.

Enable FRCA reverse proxy caching

FRCA provides reverse proxy caching support. You may specify the maximum proxy cache size and the maximum proxy response size to cache. In addition, you may provide options for controlling which documents are cached based on expiration criteria, specify remote servers for proxy requests, and establish document retention policies. You must enable FRCA before FRCA Reverse Proxy caching can be set up.

  1. Click the Manage tab.
  2. Click the HTTP Servers subtab.
  3. Select your HTTP Server (powered by Apache) from the Server list.
  4. Select the context you want to work with from the Server area list.
  5. Expand Server Properties.
  6. Click FRCA.
  7. Click the FRCA Reverse Proxy Cache tab in the form.
  8. Select Enabled from the FRCA reverse proxy cache capabilities list.
  9. Enter a new value for Maximum proxy cache size and select its corresponding size unit, or keep the default value.
  10. Enter a new value for Maximum proxy response size to cache and select its corresponding size unit, or keep the default value.
  11. Enter a new value for Document retention period and select its time unit, or keep the default value.
  12. Click Add under the Proxy requests to remote servers table.
  13. Enter a virtual path under the Local virtual path column.
  14. Enter a remote server URL under the Remote server URL column.
  15. Click Continue.
  16. Click Add under the Document refresh policies table.
  17. Enter a full or partial URL under the Match URL column.
  18. Enter a value under the Period column and select its corresponding time unit.
  19. Click Continue.
  20. Click OK.
  21. Stop and restart your server.