Configure a Content Caching setting in Apple Business Essentials
Content caching is a service in macOS that downloads content other Apple devices request, such as:
Apple operating system updates
App Store app updates
Data that users store in their iCloud accounts
For a full list of all cached content, see the Apple Support article Content types supported by the caching service.
The saved content is stored in a folder on the Mac (or connected external storage). This content is then made available for other Apple devices to retrieve without any additional configuration and without going out over the internet. Devices automatically use a lookup service that maps client private and public IP addresses to configurations registered with Apple from Mac computers with content caching turned on.
You can use content caching for:
Local networks that are all connected to the same switch or router
Networks that have more than one switch or router (known as networks that have more that one subnet)
Devices physically connected (or tethered) to a Mac (for example, when configuring many devices at once using Apple Configurator)
Important: For best results, deploy content caching on a Mac that has a single wired Ethernet connection as its only connection to the network. Content caching can use a Wi-Fi connection instead of Ethernet, but performance is affected.
In Apple Business Essentials, sign in with a user that has the role of Administrator.
Select Settings
in the sidebar, then select All Settings.Select the Add button
next to Content Caching 
.Choose any of the options in the table below to allow users with Apple devices to benefit from content caching.
Setting
Option
Description
Allow content caching
Enable
Disable
If you choose Enable, no user on the Mac that has this setting applied can turn off the content caching service.
If you choose Disable, no user on the Mac that has this setting applied can turn on the content caching service.
Cached content
Shared: Operating system and app updates
iCloud: iCloud data, such as photos and documents
Both: Shared and iCloud
Select which types of content you want the caching content service to cache.
Tethered caching
Enable
Disable
If you choose Enable, the content cache and internet connection of the Mac is shared with iPhone and iPad devices connected using USB (or, if an iPad model supports it, Thunderbolt).
If you choose Disable, no devices physically connected to the Mac can benefit from the content caching service or use the Mac to connect to the internet.
Location
Internal
External
If you choose Internal, the cache is stored on the startup volume, located in /Library/Application Support/Apple/AssetCache/Data/.
If you choose External, you must enter an existing folder structure on an attached device, such as a Thunderbolt or USB device. For example, if you have a Thunderbolt device named Extra and you have a folder on it named Cached_Files, you would enter /Volumes/Extra/Cached_Files/ and macOS would add the following folder structure inside the Cached_Files folder: /Library/Application Support/Apple/AssetCache/Data/.
Cache cleanup
Yes
No
If you choose Yes, the Mac can purge content from the cache automatically when it needs storage space for other reasons.
If you choose No, the Mac can’t purge content from the cache automatically when it needs storage space for other reasons. This may slow down all processes—including the content caching service—on the Mac.
Limit cache
Yes
No
If you choose Yes, you must select how much space the content cache can use (in gigabytes).
If you choose No, there is no limit on the space the content cache uses.
Cache quota
Number
The maximum storage space (in gigabytes) that’s used for the content cache.
Local network
Local Only
All Subnets
If you choose “Local Only,” the content caching service offers content to only requests from devices on the same local network.
If you choose “All Subnets,” the content caching service offers content to all requests from devices on any connected networks reachable by the content caching service.
Keep awake
Yes
No
If you choose Yes, the Mac is prevented from sleeping if the caching service is turned on.
If you choose No, the Mac may go to sleep if no devices are requesting cached files.
Notifications
Yes
No
If you choose Yes, the Mac displays Notifications related to the caching service.
If you choose No, the Mac displays no Notifications related to the caching service.
Log clients
Yes
No
If you choose Yes, the Mac running the content caching service logs the IP address and port number of clients that request content.
If you choose No, the Mac running the content caching service doesn’t log the IP address and port number of clients that request content.
Select Save.