Web Mirror

In networking jargon, a mirror is a network site that copies the contents of another server for a given service. Thus, you'll hear about FTP mirrors, WAIS mirrors, and also occasionally about Web mirrors. Theoretically, a Web mirror would be a Web site available through a unique URL that nevertheless duplicates the layout and contents of an original Web site, with URLs adjusted to behave as closely to the original site as possible. The primary reason for creating mirrors is to spread the access load across multiple servers, and thereby improve overall response time. Unfortunately, the concept is more difficult to implement than to explain. Today, techniques to automate mirroring are not available, so what mirrors you may encounter are usually the result of painstaking manual labor on the part of some dedicated WebMaster.

URLs:

Mirror FAQ

This page gives some brief but poignant information on the difficulties of true mirroring, and points to capabilities inherent in the CERN httpd implementation that supports improved access time. For more information, follow the pointer to the WWW FAQ.

Web mirror

A good general discussion of the technology to support, and the difficulties in implementing, Web mirrors, with pointers to a variety of useful related topics.

W3E References:

FTP mirror