Improving Web Server Performance with Predictive Caching

Even with rapid advances in the technology of processors, memory, storage and networks, the growth in web-based information and the increased use of web-based applications continue to place demands on the Internet. Performance of web servers continues to present challenges. Delays in access to web-based information, i.e., access latency, continues to be a serious problem, even with higher bandwidth networks. Web caching and prefetching are well knows strategies for improving the performance of web servers. In this paper we present a predictive caching strategy aimed at improving web server performance and analyze its effectiveness. Results of trace-driven simulation suggest that the approach can improve server performance.