Setting branch caching server options

You can set dynamic branch caching options to control the size of the Surround SCM Server cache, which can help reduce memory or performance issues.

Mainline branches are always cached when the server starts. By default, baseline, snapshot, and workspace branches are set to Cache on Demand, which means they are cached when users perform actions that access a branch. When the server starts, the most recently used Cache on Demand, or dynamic, branches as of the last server shutdown are cached. If these branch types are changed to Always Cache, they are always loaded when the server starts.

As additional branches are created, the cache may become too large, which can cause memory issues and slow server startup times. If this happens, you can adjust the caching server options to reduce the number of cached dynamic branches and set inactivity timeout limits for unloading inactive dynamic branches or changing inactive Always Cache branches to Cache on Demand.

1. Choose Tools > Administration > Server Options.

The Server Options dialog box opens.

2. Select Caching from the Global Server Options category.

3. Enter the Minimum dynamic branches to cache to indicate the minimum number of dynamic branches per mainline branch to cache during server startup and to maintain in the cache.

This setting applies to each mainline branch. For example, if the server includes 10 mainline branches that each include 10 branches and the minimum branches to cache setting is 10, the cache always stores 100 branches. The default 10 branches.

4. Enter the Inactivity timeout to indicate the number of minutes to leave a dynamic branch in the cache without activity before it is unloaded.

A branch is considered inactive if no read or write activities that require the branch to be loaded in the cache are performed in the specified number of minutes. Inactive dynamic branches, excluding the most recently used branches, are automatically unloaded from the cache. The default is 60 minutes.

5. Enter the Maximum dynamic branches to cache to indicate the maximum number of dynamic branches per mainline to cache.

If this limit is exceeded, inactive dynamic branches, excluding the most recently used branches, that have not yet reached the inactivity timeout are unloaded until the minimum number of branches to cache is reached. The default is 100 branches.

6. Select Force branch to cache on demand after inactivity timeout to automatically change unused branches set to Always Cache to Cache on Demand after the specified number of days.

An informational message is added to the server log if a branch is forced to Cache on Demand. The default is 120 days.

7. Click OK to save the changes.