cache array routing protocol (CARP)

The CacheArrayRouting Protocol (CARP) is a standardized protocol for routing to cache proxies used in Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0. This powerful protocol supports scaling from an array of proxy servers whose caches are switched as a logical cache.

CARP uses a hash function for routing and builds a deterministic path through the proxy array. This request resolution path is based on the identity of the proxies in the array and the Internet address( URL). This means that for a URL request, the web browser or downstream proxy server knows where exactly in the cache array the information is stored.

CARP provides high efficiency and its routing algorithm prevents duplication of cache content in the proxy array. In addition to the CARP protocol, there is also the Internet Cache Protocol( ICP), the Web Cache Communication Protocol( WCCP) and the HypertextCaching Protocol( HTCP), which is intended to replace these protocols.