CachePilot Key Features

eLearning packages are predicted to routinely exceed 30 Gbytes in size within 3 years, putting an enormous strain on data networks.

It is vital that content delivery methods keep pace and CachePilot more than meets the challenge by incorporating a variety of clever techniques to ensure all steps are taken to avoid wasting valuable bandwidth or slowing down networks.

Why Caching alone is not enough
Caches store data sequentially as and when it arrives, rather than in any ordered form, which means that sites are interspersed with other sites and web pages on the same caching device. This makes retrieving them time-consuming - indeed, it may be quicker to revisit a website in the US than search a 5Gbyte conventional local cache.

A typical eLearning site could be many tens of Gigabytes of data, too big to fit into standard caching products and far too big to be efficiently navigated, even if it could be stored. Storing the required information efficiently and in a structured fashion requires the ability to download ahead of time using free bandwidth periods such as overnight, or during the weekend.

Special eLearning Requirements
For eLearning material to be effectively delivered to academic establishments - or for lifelong learning purposes in businesses - it must come from a local source that replicates the original data in a structured manner. The local cache must also be capable of automatic content updating as and when required, and capable of delivering its content to many student simultaneously, all of which is beyond the capability of standard caching technologies. CachePilot is ideal for this task because it is far more than just a caching appliance

Structured Data Store
CachePilot is able to faithfully replicate the directory and file structure of the source content, which enables the speedy retrieval and delivery of the content without wasting time on unnecessary searching. Even CDs can be stored using a simple 'drag and drop' operation, and served locally.

Automatic Pre-Caching and Mirroring
CachePilot can automatically check its content against a remote server containing the source data and copy any new or modified files and directories. This would usually be done on a daily or weekly basis, normally occuring during the night or weekend.

Central Distribution
CachePilot can also receive updates and modifications proactively sent to it from the remote server holding the source content data. This is very useful because many local caching appliances under the control of a single authority are remotely updated by that autority. In this vein, Equiinet and Cisco Systems have collaborated on caching and CDN solutions that are fully integrated and interoperate as one, providing many benefits to different users.

Web and File Serving
eLearning content is almost exclusively web-based, making CachePilot's in-built web-server a great way of achieving local delivery without the need for additional hardware. It also adds resilience to the network, as all local PCs point directly to CachePilot's web server, minimizing the chances of network failure.

CachePilot also acts as a file server, so no separate extra servers are required to perform this function.

Web Proxy Server
Internet access may be controlled by a combination of time-based and "block" and "allow" lists. Optional Secure Computing SmartFilter and NetSweeper URL Filtering is also available.

Automatic Updating
The integrity of the eLearning package may be secured by CachePilot's proprietary automatic updating method, which ensures that content has been digitally signed before it is added. Using a unique software upgrading method that Equiinet uses for its award-winning NetPilot range of Secure Server Appliances this solution provides peace of mind for providers that rogue content cannot be added to their material without their approval.

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