The Content Cache settings enable you to define cache size limits, minimum requirements for disk space, and the content retention period for content downloaded to ZENworks ondemand content servers and satellites with an Ondemand Content role. You can also specifically set how long metadata and content are maintained for downloaded files. See the descriptions below for more information about metadata and content:
Metadata: The "index" file that the Content Server uses to know what content to send to a device when it requests an update. The metadata needs to have a short Time-to-Live (TTL) so that the Content Server requests it frequently and has the latest index of content. Otherwise, it will continue to serve it to devices, resulting in devices not receiving the most recent content.
Content: The content pertains to what the Content Server is downloading and distributing to managed devices. For example, malware signatures and agent updates for devices that have the Antimalware Agent installed. The content should have a longer TTL so that it does not repeat downloads.
Maximum Cache Size: Set the Maximum Cache Size to define the upper limit of cached on-demand content. The default value is 1000 GB.
Minimum Free Disk Space: Specify Minimum Free Disk Space to ensure sufficient storage is always available on the content server. The default value is 4 GB.
The default minimum value is 4GB and the maximum value is 1000GB.
To change the default or currently configured settings for content type configurations, directly modify the Cache Size and Disk Space fields. To adjust the settings for Cache Life and Remove Unused Content After, select the desired option, and click Edit.
Cache life
It is a TTL (Time To Live) configuration that checks for stale on-demand content in the endpoint cache based on its last access time. This determines whether to stream the existing content or request a newer copy from an upstream Content Server.
Remove Unused Content After
If the On-Demand content on the Primary or Satellite is not accessed within the configured expiry time, it is automatically cleaned up from the On-Demand content folder in the content repository.
Antimalware Metadata: The metadata must have a cache life to ensure that the Content Server regularly requests it and maintains the latest index of content. Without this, the Content Server may continue to serve outdated content to devices, preventing them from receiving the most recent updates.
By default, the Antimalware Metadata content has a short cache life of about 10 minutes to keep the content up-to-date.
Remove Unused Content After specifies the retention period for unused metadata before it is removed. By default, this period is set to 30 days, meaning any unused metadata older than 30 days will be deleted.
Antimalware Content: Antimalware content should have a longer cache life to avoid repetitive downloads. By extending the cache life, the system can store the content for a longer period, reducing the need for frequent re-downloads and improving efficiency while ensuring that devices still receive the most current version when needed. By default, the cache life is set to 7 days.
Remove Unused Content After specifies the retention period for unused content before it is removed. By default, this period is set to 30 days, meaning any unused content older than 30 days will be deleted.
Bundle, Policy, and System Update: The Cache Life setting is not applicable because bundles, policies, and system update content are directly available within ZENworks, eliminating the need for caching.
Remove Unused Content After specifies the retention period for unused data before it is removed. By default, this period is set to 10 days, meaning any unused data older than 10 days will be deleted.
Patch Catalog: Cache Life refers to the duration that patch metadata is stored in the system before being cleared. By default, Cache Life is set to 4 hours, meaning the patch information will remain cached for 4 hours before it is automatically cleared.
Remove Unused Content After specifies the retention period for unused patch content before it is removed. By default, this period is set to 14 days, meaning any unused patch content older than 14 days will be deleted.
Patch Content: The Patch Content includes underlining patch binaries. The content should have a longer cache life so that it does not repeat downloads.
Remove Unused Content After specifies the retention period for unused patch content before it is removed. By default, this period is set to 30 days, meaning any unused patch content older than 30 days will be deleted.
At the device level, if the Satellite Server is not updated to Update 3, then the Removed Unused Content After setting that was configured in Update 2, which is currently effective will be retained. This setting cannot be modified. After upgrading, the setting will be removed.
The Remove Unused Content After is applicable only for the ondemand content that is downloaded from the ZENworks ondemand content server.
To change the default or currently configured settings for the general cache, modify the fields directly for Cache Size, Disk Space, and Content Retention. To modify the settings for Cached File Time to Live, select Antimalware Metadata or Antimalware Content, and click Edit.
NOTE:If the configured Maximum Cache Size is lower than the content-repo size, then ondemand contents are not downloaded on the Ondemand Content Master (OCM) from an external source. If the metadata files are not available in the OCM, then the patch scan might not work as expected. Similarly, if the configured Minimum Free Disk Space is lower than the available disk space, then the new contents are not downloaded, and requests are rejected.