It also pays to consider the code, keeping in mind that caches based on repackaged freeware are a lot more sluggish than the sleek new stuff. It's also a good idea to ponder the protocols, since that will help determine which caches from which vendors will work together. Also get set on such matters as security, remote management, and directory integration. Then look at costs, going beyond the sticker price to see what the vendor charges for a support contract. And if the answers aren't enough to trigger a purchase, net managers can build their own caches, using freeware like Squid.
Proxy caches run caching and other functions in software on general-purpose platforms.
Caching appliances typically comprise caching software running on a dedicated hardware platform. And hardware makes for faster caching, as even some proxy server vendors admit. Users also cite the significance of speed. Loskot had been using the Netscape product but switched after users complained about response times. In theory, it would be possible for a corporate networker to build a proxy server that offers as much in the way of performance as a cache appliance.