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Setup Proxy Server

First, you should know what is Proxy Server? and What is its Job actually.

The Proxy Server is a piece of software that sits between your web browser and your server. It intercepts all your requests to the server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the server. Its main purpose is to control user access to specific websites. AnalogX, Squid, PHP Proxy and CGI Proxy are some of the services available for downloading a proxy server to your computer system.

There are four main reasons leading to the use of a Firewall / Proxy server

  • Using Internet services from all computers in local network via only one machine that is connected to the Internet. This machine can be connected via a dial up modem or second ethernet interface. This ability is welcomed by most users.
  • Another, more serious reason is protection of your local network If your LAN is not directly connected to the Internet, then the only way to access Internet is to go via the proxy server.
  • The last reason can be the need for better use of Internet resources. The data going via proxy server are stored in shared cache. It allows users to retrieve FTP, Gopher and HTTP data quickly and efficiently, often avoiding the need to access the Internet.
  • Cooperation with application MailScan allows to central antivirus control of emails

    One of the best known Windows Proxy is WinProxy. WinProxy is a 32bit application designed to work as a Proxy server/ Firewall. It works on computers running Windows 95/98/ME or Windows NT/2000/XP. Configuration is easy and can be maintained remotely through WWW. WinProxy supports most of the popular Internet protocols.
    Supported protocols are: HTTP (WWW), FTP, GOPHER, HTTPS (SSL), Telnet, NNTP, SMTP, POP3, Real Audio, Mapped Links and SOCKS.

    Download WinProxy here

    How To Setup WinProxy?

    1) Install Control Panels / Network / Microsoft Protocol / TCP/IP on all computers in LAN. Assign IP address 192.168.1.1 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0
    to the PC with WinProxy. This way set up binding TCP/IP -> internal network card only. Assign to other computers the following IP addresses 192.168.1.2,
    192.168.1.3 etc.

    a) in case of a dial-up connection keep in binding TCP/IP -> dial-up adaptor possibly to obtain IP address from DHCP server.

    b) in case, that there are two network cards on the computer running WinProxy, configure TCP/IP binding -> external network card in accordance with your ISP’s instructions.

    2) Using the Ping command <remote IP address> check the mutual network operation from all computers.

    3) Install and run WinProxy.

    4) Select Internet Explorer / Tools / Internet options / Connections / LAN Settings / Use a proxy server. In the Address field enter Proxy Host IP address and in the Port field enter 3128. Check Bypass server for local (Intranet) addresses.

    Do the same on all computers in LAN including the computer running WinProxy.

    5) On the computer with modem select Internet Explorer / Tools / Internet
    Options / Connections / Dial-up Settings / Never dial a connection    . Click on the Set up button and enter proxy server and port as in the above item and
    uncheck Automatically detect settings.

    6) On the computer running WinProxy enter http://localhost:3129/admin
    and you will get to WinProxy Configuration. In case of a permanent connection it is not necessary to make further changes. In dial-up connection it is essential
    to select Configuration / Dial / Connection Name and enter correct Username and Password.