The Cache Agent auto locate algorithm uses two parameters to determine the best cache agent to resolve. They are the subnet of the cache agent and the time it takes to open a socket.
Machines that are in the same subnet as a specific cache agent will always auto locate that cache agent, unless their address changes and they move to a different subnet.
Machines that are not in the subnet of any of the cache agents will resolve to the cache agent with the most responsive (best) socket response time with respect to the network.
Example 1:
The machine is at 172.16.22.162
The cache agents are at 10.14.3.16, 10.73.102.16, 10.10.129.90
The cache agent whose ping response time is the smallest from these three, with respect to the host at 172.16.22162 is selected.
Example 2:
The machine is at 10.73.x.y
Cache agent 10.73.102.16 will always be selected, ping time is irrelevant.
Example 3:
The machine is at 10.14.x.y
Cache agent 10.14.3.16 will always be selected, ping time is irrelevant.