How to cache Applet using JRE 1.2.2

Question

I have an applet that is about 500+ kb in size.
I will like to cache this Applet on the end user's
machine and to be downloaded only when the version
on the server has changed. I had done quite a lot
of search on java.sun.com and java usenet
newsgroups, but could not find definintive answer.
This what I had to use:
JRE Plugin 1.2.2 release 006, On Windows NT 4
with SP4 and IE 4.0 with SP1. I could not make
it cache on above platform as Cleint.
This is my understanding so far:
1> Java 1.2.2 jre/plugin depends on browser to cache
the Applet. There is nothing special you have to do.
Is above correct?
2>SOme of the message I had seen on usenet and sun site indicate that the people have problem opposite than me. i.e Applet is cached and they dont want that wherever I want it to be cached and it is not caching.
3> Is it true that for browser to cache the 1.2.2 Applet
(with pluguin installded on end user PC), it had to be
signed using the tools those come with JDK. Keytool
and Jarsigner etc. I tried both ways by using signed
and unsigned applet.
4> I heard that JDK1.3 plugin had additional
parameters i.e cache_option = "plugin" etc
where Applet JAR will be saved in a place other
than Browser's cache. Is it true above is not
available in JDK 1.2.2.
5> I have 'cache im memory' option checked in
Java Plugin control panel. But that did not help.
6> Is there any special way to put html tag for Applet
Jar to be cached. The Applet that needs to be cached
is already in production and html file is working fine
as such.
7>Is there any known bug with JRE 1.2.2 that will
prevent it from caching.
Any responses or pointer to responses appreciated.
TIA
Rakesh K Mittal

Answer 1

I am trying the same in order to implement a version control applet.
The proposal is that an applet runs previous to the main applet. It checks the JARs versions with the server and download the latest if they does not exist in the client. All the version are placed in the extensions directory of the plugin so when the main applet loads the clases it can pick them up lastest versions from the extensions directory.
It works for me. However there is some anoying bug to regard as 4215307.
However, in spite all the previous is working, I can not make it work through a proxy since Control Panel ignores when I set Browser settings or another proxy and always executes without proxy.
A caching proxy could also reduce the network traffic.
Any ideas??
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