There is a clean way to keep using SEO URLs (static version) and allow caching at IHS level.
The infocenter says:
“Static URLs can only use WebSphere dynamic caching at the Application Server.”
Then, in theory, you can’t cache at IHS level a static URL like
http://localhost/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategories1_10001_10001
Buy if you “rewrite” this URL to his dynamic version
http://localhost/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001
BEFORE it’s processed by the plugin, you can still cache it with ESI.
This is what I did: I added this simple rewrite rule to the Commerce virtual host on IHS
RewriteRule ^/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategories1_(.+)_(.+)$ /webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=$1&catalogId=$2 [PT]
and voilá. This way I’m still using the SEO URLs but I’m caching it on ESI.
Be carefully: the PT (Pass Through) option in the rule is VERY important.
According to the Websphere plugin documentation:
“The PT flag is required, as this is what lets the WebSphere plug-in observe the results of the mod_rewrite processing.”
this option allows you to “cheat” the plugin and cache the home page contents on the edge.
