L7 RANDOMGET

Random GET (cache bypass)

GET requests with randomized paths or query strings. Designed to reduce CDN/cache effectiveness and force origin fetches.

How it works

  1. Each request hits a unique or rotating URL variant.
  2. Edge caches miss more often, shifting load to origin servers.
  3. Origin CPU and disk I/O rise even when total RPS looks moderate.

Packet flow (illustrative)

Same GET mechanics, but URL path/query changes per request.

Illustrative flow — not a live capture.

Typical pattern Unique URL variants
Engarde metric Origin latency spike
Layer L7 + cache

What to watch in Engarde

  • CDN cache hit ratio if you compare fixed URL vs. RANDOMGET.
  • Origin-only error patterns when edge shielding fails.
  • WAF rule match rates on unusual query strings.

Running this simulation

Engarde RANDOMGET mode varies URL parameters from distributed nodes. Compare reports against a fixed-path GET run on the same target.

Mitigation perspective

Normalize query keys, enforce cache keys, and rate-limit anomalous path patterns. Simulation reveals cache dependency risks early.