Abstract: A method for caching data may be practiced, for example, in a computing environment including a server system that provides data to client systems. The server system includes a number of caches for storing data. The method allows a least expensive cache to first cache data or return data requested by a client. The method includes receiving data to be cached at a cache. The method further includes determining that the data has not been previously cached at a preceding cache. If the data has not been previously cached at a preceding cache the data is cached at the cache. Alternatively, requests for data may be received at a first cache. If the data is at the first cache, the first cache returns the data. If the data is not at the first cache, the request for data is forwarded to a subsequent cache.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing network response buffering behavior. A computer system receives a request for content from a client. The computer system has a default response buffering behavior used when transferring content. The computer system maps the request to a handler configured to serve the requested content. The computer system accesses buffering behavior data for the handler. The computer system determines that the requested content is to be transferred in accordance with altered response buffering behavior based at least on the buffering behavior data. The altered response buffering behavior corresponds to the requested content as an exception to the default response buffering. The computer system accesses a portion of the requested content from the handler. The computer system transfers the portion of requested content to the client in accordance with the altered response buffer behavior.

Abstract: Piping command line functions. A method may be practiced in a computing system. The method includes acts for performing functions using a single command line utility capable of performing multiple functions. The command line utility is able to accept output of the command line utility as arguments for functions performed by the command line utility. The method includes calling a command line utility to perform a particular function. An output is received from the command line utility. The command line utility is called again using the output as an argument when calling the command line utility again.

Abstract: Caching data. A method may be practiced, for example, in a computing environment including a server system that provides data to client systems. The server system includes a number of caches for storing data. The method allows a least expensive cache to first cache data or return data requested by a client. The method includes receiving data to be cached at a cache. The method further includes determining that the data has not been previously cached at a preceding cache. If the data has not been previously cached at a preceding cache the data is cached at the cache. Alternatively, requests for data may be received at a first cache. If the data is at the first cache, the first cache returns the data. If the data is not at the first cache, the request for data is forwarded to a subsequent cache.

Abstract: A partitioning mechanism is executed on a server that receives a request to determine the connection information that is then used by the server to connect to a back-end data server from which to access the data relating to the request. The partitioning mechanism is directed to horizontally scaling the back-end data storage for web servers by enabling a deterministic partitioning resolution to take place on each web server rather than using a single server to provide the connection information to each of the web servers. The partitioning policy may also be individually developed for each application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for intermediate buffering of data for the purpose of controlling its delivery to the consumer. The systems and methods for buffering data can arbitrate between the incoming data flow from the generating component and the outgoing data flow to the consumer. In doing so, the systems and methods for buffering of data seek to honor the delivery demands and/or constraints of the consumer, while avoiding the loss of the data generated by the producer. The delivery demands of the consumer may include requirements pertaining to maximum acceptable incoming data rate, the desired incoming data rate, incoming data aggregation, the desired freshness of the data, and tolerance for event loss. The generation component constraints may include the space limitations on buffering data within the data buffer.

Abstract: Methods are provided for utilizing a modular server architecture for processing requests for services, such as authorization and authentication, in a web server. The modular server architecture includes self-contained modular components that can be plugged in and out of the web server, as needed, to provide requested web services. The modular server architecture is also extensible in that it provides set of server APIs for processing requests for supporting built-in server functionality as well as functionality provided by third party modular components. The modular server architecture also supports the integration of request processing tasks for both native and managed modular components, such as ASP.NET modules, by virtue of a managed module host component. The modular server architecture also optimizes server performance by only providing modular component functionality when needed.

Abstract: Profiles hold cache settings externally from a requesting resource. The external cache settings stored within a profile may be associated with one or more resources. This allows the external cache settings for a group of resources to be managed from one location rather than having to change the internal cache settings for each resource. When a resource is processed by the server, the external cache settings are obtained from a cache profile and applied to the requesting resource. The external cache settings may also be merged with any internal resource settings. As a result of merging the settings some of the external cache settings and/or some of the internal cache settings may be overridden.