CacheR installation

Prerequisites

• Working Stifler Setup with version 3.0 or newer

• Windows Server (2Pint used Windows Server Standard 2022)

• MS SQL (Express works for lab but not recommended for production)

• SQL Management Studio

• Webserver certificate

Installation

Install SQL

If you already have an SQL Server instance in place, you can use it for CacheR, you don't need a new one.

Select custom and choose download folder.

Select "New SQL server standalone installation"

Untick "Azure Extension for SQL Server"

Unselect everything except “Database Engine Services” and select root directory

Enable SQL Server Browser

Verify collation

Add Builtin\Administrators to SQL Admins

Configure Data Directories

Create SQL database and tables manually (optional)

As long as the account running the service has access to SQL and is allowed to create databases and tables it will be automatically created and this can be skipped. If not it needs to be created using the following process.

On the server, open SQL Management Studio (install if needed) and create a new Database called CacheR. If on a remote server, make sure to apply the correct security rights for the services. (Computer account if running as local system, or the service account used for the services)

Install WebApi service

From an Elevated Command prompt launch TwoPint.CacheR.WebApi.Installer64.msi. You also can launch installation as it is – the installer will ask for elevation when needed.

At the "Welcome" screen, feel welcomed, and then click Next.

At the "End-User License Agreement" screen, once you have reviewed the EULA, check the box: I accept the terms in the License Agreement, and then click Next.

At the "Destination Folder" screen, enter the path to the directory where the CacheR WebApi program files should be installed and then click Next.

At the "Ready to install..." screen, click Install to begin the installation.

At the "Completed" screen, the installation wizard is complete. Make sure that checkbox on the bottom left is set to Launch Configuration Editor. Click Finish and enjoy a nice cup of tea, you’ve earned it.

Configure CacheR WebAPI Service

Use the Configuration Editor to complete the initial CacheR setup. All required fields must be populated before the service can be verified and started.

• Enable HTTPS (recommended) to secure communication between CacheR, clients, and upstream services. HTTPS is strongly recommended for production environments.

• In HostCertificateThumbPrint, enter the thumbprint of the SSL certificate bound to the CacheR service.The certificate must be present in the local computer certificate store and include the appropriate DNS name.

• Provide the SQL connection string used by CacheR WebAPI to store operational data.

  Example:

• Define the StifleR Server URL that CacheR will register with and report to. Example:

• Click Verify to validate all settings. Once verification completes successfully, click Save to apply the configuration.

• After saving, a confirmation dialog will appear indicating that the configuration was saved successfully. You will be prompted to set the CacheRWebAPI service startup type to Automatic and start the service. Select Yes to apply the startup configuration and start the service immediately.

Install Worker Service

From an Elevated Command prompt launch TwoPint.CacheR.Worker.Installer64.msi. You also can launch installation as it is – the installer will ask for elevation when needed.

At the "Welcome" screen, feel welcomed, and then click Next.

At the "End-User License Agreement" screen, once you have reviewed the EULA, check the box: I accept the terms in the License Agreement, and then click Next.

At the "Destination Folder" screen, enter the path to the directory where the CacheR Worker service program files should be installed and then click Next.

At the "Ready to install..." screen, click Install to begin the installation.

At the "Completed" screen, the installation wizard is complete. Make sure that checkbox on the bottom left is set to Launch Configuration Editor. Click Finish and enjoy a nice cup of tea, you’ve earned it.

Configure CacheR Worker service

• Enter the Domain where the service account resides.

• In UserName, specify the service account used by the CacheR Worker service. This account is used to access Distribution Point IIS shares and calculate content hashes.

• Provide the Password for the specified service account.

• Provide the SQL connection string used by CacheR WebAPI to store operational data.

  Example:

• Click Verify to validate all settings. Once verification completes successfully, click Save to apply the configuration.

• After saving, a confirmation dialog will appear indicating that the configuration was saved successfully. You will be prompted to set the CacheRWebAPI service startup type to Automatic and start the service. Select Yes to apply the startup configuration and start the service immediately.

Configure Stifler to enable CacheR

To enable CacheR functionality, start the StifleR Service Config Editor on the machine where it is installed. Enable Show Advanced, search for CacheR, and then enable Show CacheR features. Verify and Save the configuration and restart the StifleR service if prompted to ensure the changes take effect.

Once CacheR features are enabled, open the StifleR Dashboard and navigate to Infrastructure Services. The CacheR server will appear in the list and must be approved before it can be used by StifleR.

After approval, select the CacheR server and set it as the Default CacheR instance. If multiple CacheR servers exist in the environment, only one can be configured as the default at any given time.

When the CacheR server is approved and set as default, additional CacheR related sections will become available in the StifleR Dashboard, confirming that CacheR is enabled and ready for configuration and operation.

Additional guidance on operating CacheR is available in the CacheR documentation section.