You can only use content caching on networks with publicly routable IP addresses or on networks with a NAT environment for the content cache and all devices.

Content caching can still work if your Mac is using a Wi-Fi connection instead, but you will probably notice slower performance than if you used Ethernet alone.

In Apple’s support documentation, they strongly recommend that you set up content caching on a Mac computer that uses a single-wired Ethernet connection as its only form of connection to the network. Network Requirements for Content Caching on Mac Content caching can extend beyond iCloud or App downloads as well, including Mac apps, books, software updates, Xcode components, and more. For instance, if users have downloaded data from their iCloud account, it will be cached so local Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices can download it – without having to retrieve copies of the content from outside of the LAN. Connected Apple devices can then retrieve the content without having to retrieve copies of the content from outside of the LAN.Ĭontent caching can optionally apply to iCloud data as well. This is accomplished by storing local copies of previously downloaded content on a Mac computer’s content cache. Here’s a brief overview of what we’ll cover:Ĭontent caching is a macOS service that speeds up software installation on Mac computers, iOS devices, iPadOS devices, and Apple TV devices. In this guide, we’re going to do a deep dive into what content caching is, how it’s changing, and how you can accomplish simple and advanced configurations for it.

At WWDC 2020, Apple announced a few exciting changes that will make content caching even more powerful on macOS Big Sur. Content caching is a powerful tool that speeds up software installation on Apple devices on a local network.

Itunes download macos big sur