SCCM and Microsoft Connected Cache Integration to Help with Bandwidth Issues

Let’s have a quick look at the SCCM and Microsoft connected cache integration (of course with Delivery Optimization – DO) options. All the screenshots are taken from the Ignite session demo by Andy Rivas & Narkis Engler. More details about the session and recording below section of this post.

Ignite 2019 Coverage

1. Microsoft Endpoint Management SCCM Intune Windows Updates
2. Microsoft Endpoint Manager is the future of SCCM Intune MEMMI MEMCM
3. iOS Android macOS Mobile Enrollment Options with Intune
4. Basics of Windows Dynamic Update Explained Update Management
5. WVD End User Experience Availability Updates
6. MSIX Updates from Ignite Reliability Network Disk-space
7. Microsoft Learning Certification Exams Updates
8. On-Prem WVD Options Azure Quantum Qualys Scan Integration
9. Intune Reporting Strategies Advanced Reporting
10. Intune Endpoint Security Policies Enhancements
11. Intune Policy Sets Collection of Workflows
12. Windows Autopilot Updates Timelines
13. Microsoft Connected Cache Container Instances in Azure via Intune
14. SCCM and Microsoft Connected Cache Integration

Introduction

Microsoft answer to network bandwidth issues in the modern workplace is Microsoft Connected Cache + Delivery Optimization + Microsoft Endpoint Manager. The solution which we are going to see in this post is pure hybrid solution (very tightly integrated with SCCM investments) on the EDGE!

Microsoft Connected Cache can seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Endpoint Manager solution like SCCM/MEMCM.

Microsoft connected cache with DO solution is based on IIS and Application Request Routing (ARR). This solutions are based on Windows Server native tool set. This Windows solution helps to deliver Microsoft connected cache solution with DO & SCCM (MEMCM).

• Cloud Managed
  • Microsoft Connected Cache is designed for cloud era
• Localized Cache
  • Use one or many, along side Delivery Optimization
• Efficient
  • Cache only content that is needed by your devices, at the byte range level
• Reliable & Flexible
  • Cache aware distribution, ensures seamless fallback to the cloud
• Configure once and forget
  • Enjoy with new content that DO supports

Architecture Flow Diagram

Microsoft Connected Cache service can use Configuration Manager/SCCM or MEMCM DP as it’s connected Cache content location. Also, SCCM clients can get the content from the Connected Cache Container.

• SCCM DP configured to enable Connected Cache service so that it can download the content from Microsoft CDN on client request
• Clients configured with Connected Cache enablement policies
• Client requests for Connected Cache supported content
• Connected Cache container gets content from CDN and deliver to client
• Client uses Delivery Optimization (DO) to share this content with other client devices

SCCM and Connected Cache Integration

You can fully unitize the existing investment with SCCM and Microsoft Connected Cache. The integration experience will be seamless for SCCM admins.

NOTE! – More details on the setup and configuration of Microsoft Connected Cache Containers and nodes are explained in the blog post here.

SCCM Server Side Configuration for Microsoft Connected Cache

• You can configure Microsoft Connection Cache from SCCM console -> Distribution Point Properties.
• Select the option – Enable Distribution Points to be used as Microsoft Connected Server

SCCM Client Side Policies for Microsoft Connected Server

You can configure the SCCM client policies from Client Agent policies.

• Client Agent Policies – Delivery Optimization
• Select YES for the configuration called “Enable Devices Managed by Configuration Manager to use Microsoft Connected Cache servers for content download“

Real World Story – SCCM and Microsoft Connected Cache Integration

This SCCM + Connected Cache is the example provided in the Microsoft ignite session. Highly efficient caching – pilot customer.

Session

Stay current while minimizing network traffic: The power of Delivery Optimization. Session Recording by Andy Rivas & Narkis Engler. https://myignite.techcommunity.microsoft.com/sessions/81680?

Resources

• Introducing Microsoft Connected Cache: Microsoft’s cloud-managed cache solution
• How to Handle SCCM Bandwidth Issues with Branch Cache Vs Peer Cache