We now have four webcaches for ResNet users, including two brand new systems. We now have more caches than before, and they are running on faster boxes. Also they are split across two separate locations, so should be available even if there is a problem at our main site. Huge thanks to Martin, Squid guru of the PC Systems team for setting up the caches for us.

What do the webcaches do? When you request a webpage your web browser checks to see if the webcache has a copy, and if so gets it from a fast server here at Bristol. If it doesn't it stores a copy on the webcache for future use. There is 600GB of storage available across the four caches.

By using the webcaches we can also reserve network capacity (bandwidth) for web browsing. Along with email web browsing is the most important and popular facility on the Internet. Other bandwidth on ResNet is shared between gaming, file transfers, radio, instant messaging, etc etc, and is limited both per person and for the whole of ResNet. With dedicated email servers and webcaches for the University we can we hope to make sure you can always browse the web and send mail, even if you or your neighbours are hammering the network with huge transfers at the same time.

Tomorrow (19th September 2006) we will be moving the ResNet database to a much more powerful computer.
Cool ... but why do I care? Well, that depends on who you are:

• If you are a current ResNet user, the Manage my ResNet utility and the automatic status monitoring on our homepage will be unavailable for most of the day. Otherwise, your internet connection should be unaffected.
• If you are a new ResNet user and need to pay us, we will be able to take your money, but we will not be able to switch on your account until after the database has been moved. Usually this would be instant.
• If you are coming to Bristol for the new academic year, you will be able to register and setup your connection even faster. (At the start of the year, when 5000 people try to register their connection at the same time, the old database computer tended to get a bit stressed, hopefully the new one will not!).

1pm 19th Sept: the database upgrade has now been completed. The new system is much snappier than the old one, and should be good for the start of term. Thanks to the database guys for sorting this for us.