Table Of Contents

Configuring an Optimization HTTP Action List

Optimization HTTP Action List Configuration Quick Start

Creating an Optimization HTTP Action List

Enabling AppScope Performance Monitoring

Enabling Cache Optimization

Enabling Delta Optimization

Enabling Dynamic Just-in-Time Object Acceleration

Enabling FlashForward

Where to Go Next

Configuring an Optimization HTTP Action List

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This chapter describes how to configure an optimization HTTP action list for the Cisco 4700 Series Application Control Engine (ACE) appliance. An action list groups a series of individual application acceleration and optimization functions that apply to a specific type of operation.

This section contains the following major sections:

•Optimization HTTP Action List Configuration Quick Start

•Creating an Optimization HTTP Action List

•Enabling AppScope Performance Monitoring

•Enabling Cache Optimization

•Enabling Delta Optimization

•Enabling Dynamic Just-in-Time Object Acceleration

•Enabling FlashForward

•Where to Go Next

Optimization HTTP Action List Configuration Quick Start

Table 2-1 provides a quick overview of the steps required to configure an optimization HTTP action list. Each step includes the CLI command or a reference to the procedure required to complete the task. For a complete description of each feature and all the options associated with the CLI commands, see the sections following Table 2-1.

Table 2-1 Optimization HTTP Action List Configuration Quick Start 

Task and Command Example
1. If you are operating in multiple contexts, observe the CLI prompt to verify that you are operating in the desired context. If necessary, change to the correct context. host1/Admin# changeto C1 host1/C1# The rest of the examples in this table use the Admin context unless otherwise specified. For details on creating contexts, see the Cisco 4700 Series Application Control Engine Appliance Administration Guide.
2. Enter global configuration mode. host1/Admin# config host1/Admin(config)#
3. Create an optimization HTTP action list. host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1 host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)#
4. Configure application acceleration and optimization functions in the action list as required. For example, enter: host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# cache dynamic host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# cache forward host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# delta host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# exit host1/Admin(config)#
5. Create a Layer 7 HTTP optimization policy map to associate an existing action list and parameter map and to configure the specified application acceleration and optimization actions. Refer to Chapter 4, Configuring a Traffic Policy for HTTP Optimization for details. host/Admin(config)# policy-map type optimization http first-match L7OPTIMIZATION_POLICY host/Admin(config-pmap-optmz)# class L7SLBCLASS host1/Admin(config-pmap-optmz-c)# host1/Admin(config-pmap-optmz-c)# action ACT_LIST1 parameter OPTIMIZE_PARAM_MAP host1/Admin(config-pmap-optmz-c)# exit
6. (Optional) Save your configuration changes to Flash memory. host1/Admin# copy running-config startup-config

Creating an Optimization HTTP Action List

To create an optimization action map for performing application acceleration, use the action-list type optimization http command in global configuration mode.

The syntax of this command is as follows:

action-list type optimization http list_name

For the list_name argument, enter a unique name as an unquoted text string with a maximum of 64 alphanumeric characters.

For example, to create an optimization HTTP action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)#

To remove the action list from the configuration, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# no action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

Use one or more of the commands in the sections in this chapter to enable the different application acceleration and optimization functions in the ACE. After you complete the optimization HTTP action list, you create an optimization HTTP parameter map to define the details about how to accomplish the specific actions. For details, see Chapter 3, Configuring an Optimization HTTP Parameter Map.

Enabling AppScope Performance Monitoring

The optional Cisco AVS 3180A Management Station runs the Management Console that includes database, management, and reporting features, including AppScope reporting, for the ACE optimization functionality. For details on using the optional Cisco AVS 3180A Management Station and on AppScope, see Appendix A, Using the Optional Cisco AVS 3180A Management Station for Reporting.

To enable AppScope performance monitoring for use with the ACE, use the appscope command in action list optimization mode.

The syntax for the command is as follows:

appscope

For example, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# appscope

To disable the AppScope function from the action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# no appscope

You control the AppScope parameters that measure application performance and that sort requests for AppScope reporting purposes. Configure the following commands in parameter map optimization mode:

•appscope optimize-rate-percent

•request-grouping-string

Refer to Chapter 3, Configuring an Optimization HTTP Parameter Map for details.

Enabling Cache Optimization

To enable cache optimization for the corresponding URLs, use the cache command in action list optimization mode. For details on the cache function, see Chapter 1, Application Acceleration and Optimization Overview.

The syntax for the command is as follows:

cache {dynamic | forward}

•dynamic—Enables adaptive dynamic caching for the corresponding URLs, even if the expiration settings in the response indicate that the content is dynamic. The expiration of cache objects is controlled by the cache expiration settings based on the time or the server load (performance assurance).

•forward—Enables the cache forward feature for the corresponding URLs. The forward keyword allows the ACE to serve the object from its cache (static or dynamic) even when the object has expired if the maximum cache TTL time period has not yet expired (set by using the cache ttl command in parameter map optimization mode). At the same time, the ACE sends an asynchronous request to the origin server to refresh its cache of the object.

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Note In order to identify whether to use static or dynamic caching, the cache forward command requires that you specify either the cache dynamic command (dynamic caching) or the flashforward-object command (static caching) to be specified before you specify this command.

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For example, to enable the cache forward feature for the corresponding URLs, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# cache dynamic

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# cache forward

To disable the cache function from the action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# no cache forward

You define the ACE cache object key, cache freshness, and cache request/response policy settings by configuring the following commands in parameter map optimization mode:

•cache key-modifier

•cache parameter

•cache ttl

•cache-policy request

•cache-policy response

Refer to Chapter 3, Configuring an Optimization HTTP Parameter Map for details.

Enabling Delta Optimization

To enable delta optimization to condense corresponding URLs, use the delta command in action list optimization mode. For details on delta optimization, see Chapter 1, Application Acceleration and Optimization Overview.

The syntax for the command is as follows:

delta

For example, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# delta

To disable delta optimization from the action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# no delta

You define the delta optimization mode and parameters by configuring the following commands in parameter map optimization mode:

•delta all-user

•delta cacheable-content

•delta exclude

•delta first-visit

•delta page-size

•delta per-user

Refer to Chapter 3, Configuring an Optimization HTTP Parameter Map for details.

Enabling Dynamic Just-in-Time Object Acceleration

Just-in-time object acceleration enables acceleration of noncacheable embedded objects, which results in improved application response time. This feature eliminates the need for users to download these objects on each request. To enable just-in-time object acceleration for the corresponding URLs, use the dynamic etag command in action list optimization mode. For details on just-in-time object acceleration, see Chapter 1, Application Acceleration and Optimization Overview.

The syntax for the command is as follows:

dynamic etag

For example, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# dynamic etag

To disable just-in-time object acceleration from the action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# no dynamic etag

Enabling FlashForward

FlashForward object acceleration extends the ACE's bandwidth usage reduction and download acceleration benefits to objects that are embedded within HTML pages. This function combines local object storage with dynamic renaming of embedded objects to enforce object freshness within the parent HTML page. For details on FlashForward, see Chapter 1, Application Acceleration and Optimization Overview.

To enable FlashForward for the corresponding URLs and to transform embedded objects, use the flashforward command in action list optimization mode. The syntax for the command is as follows:

flashforward

For example, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# flashforward

To disable FlashForward from the action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# no flashforward

To enable FlashForward static caching for the corresponding URLs, use the flashforward-object command in action list optimization mode.

The syntax for this command is as follows:

flashforward-object

For example, enter:

host1/Admin(config)# action-list type optimization http ACT_LIST1

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# flashforward-object

To disable FlashForward static caching from the action list, enter:

host1/Admin(config-actlist-optm)# no flashforward-object

You define the FlashForward refresh policy and threshold control for rebasing by using the following commands in parameter map optimization mode:

•flashforward refresh-policy

•rebase flashforward-percent

Refer to Chapter 3, Configuring an Optimization HTTP Parameter Map for details.

Where to Go Next

Proceed to Chapter 3, Configuring an Optimization HTTP Parameter Map, to configure an optimization HTTP parameter map on the ACE. This parameter map can be used to adjust or control the application acceleration and optimization functions specified in an action list.