Understand Content Cache

The Adaptiva Client Cache is a local content repository used by the Adaptiva Client to store patch content on managed Windows devices. The Adaptiva Client downloads patch content into the cache to share with peers, keeping content local in order to maintain availability and reduce repeated network transfers. The client can download content from either peers within the subnet or the parent office.

What Is the Adaptiva Client Cache

The AdaptivaCache is a hidden folder used by the Adaptiva Client to store content on endpoint devices. The AdaptivaCache folder is created at the root of every physical (non-removable) drive on a client device. For Linux and MacOS devices, the cache folder is created in /opt/adaptiva/adaptivacache. On computers with more than one writable drive, the Adaptiva Client will create an AdaptivaCache folder on each writable drive. Content will be stored on the disk with the most space at the time of download.

Administrators can override the default configuration of the Adaptiva Client Cache to define a custom cache location.

How the Cache Functions

The Adaptiva Client Cache retain content on the device for reuse and sharing. Content is not normally removed unless a defined condition occurs, such as low disk space, client uninstall, un-publishing content in Adaptiva, corruption detection, or manual deletion. We recommend not removing content from the cache as it will become inconsistent with the client state.

During content transfer, secure hash validation is used to confirm content integrity. If content fails validation, it is removed from the receiving client cache. A notification is also sent to the machine that provided the content so that the corrupt copy can be removed there as well.

When Content Is Deleted from the Cache

Content is rarely removed from the Adaptiva Client Cache, but it may be deleted under the following circumstances:

• The disk drive becomes full.

  By default, the deletion threshold is 2% or 1GB remaining free disk space. When met, content in the cache is removed to make space for the operating system, applications, or end-user activity.

• If the Adaptiva Client is uninstalled without preserving the cache.

  You can explicitly choose to preserve the content cache when uninstalling, either by selecting the option in the wizard or using the -nocachedel command-line switch.

• If the content is deleted from Configuration Manager.

  When content is deleted from Configuration Manager, the Adaptiva Server notifies all devices with that content in the cache to delete it.

• If the content is unpublished in Adaptiva.

  When content is un-published from the Adaptiva Server, clients are notified to to remove that content from the cache.

• If the content is detected as corrupt.

  If the secure hash validation fails, the client deletes the content and notifies the sender to remove their copy.

• If the content is manually deleted by someone with the required NTFS permissions.

Manage Client Cache Settings

You can create Client Settings Policies to configure the Adaptiva Client Cache on targeted devices. For instructions on how to create a new policy, see Client Settings Policies.

You can find the device registry settings configured by these policies under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adaptiva\client.

Cache Threshold Settings

You can configure the disk thresholds for the Client cache.

Cache Threshold Settings

Setting	Purpose	Default
cache.content_deletion_threshold	Defines the free disk space percentage below which the cache driver starts deleting content.	2%
cache.content_deletion_min_threshold	Defines the minimum value, in MB, that the calculated deletion threshold must exceed.	1024
cache.content_deletion_max_threshold	Defines the maximum value, in MB, that the calculated deletion threshold must not exceed.	10240

Exclude Drives From the Cache

You can control which drives are used for the Client Cache storage. This can help avoid confusion for users and prevent cache folders from being created on drives where administrators do not want Adaptiva content stored. To accomplish this, modify the appropriate registry value and define the drive letters that should be excluded.

Setting	Purpose	Default
cache.excluded_drives	Defines the drive letter(s) you wish to exclude from Cache storage, separated by semicolons.	na

Move the AdaptivaCache Folder

You can move the AdaptivaCache folder from the root of every available drive to a specific folder.

Setting	Purpose	Default
cache.folder	Defines the the new folder path, such as Windows\AdaptivaCache.	na

On systems with multiple logical drives, content may be spread across multiple AdaptivaCache folders. Each cache folder must be moved manually if the cache location is changed. Additionally, the uninstaller does not remove custom cache folders.

If the default location is changed to a subfolder, excluding additional drives is highly recommended. This prevents the specified folder hierarchy, including the hidden inner folder, from being created on other drives.