When is a Proxy Server Required?

• Microsoft Proxy Server versions 1.0 and 2.0

SUMMARY

What is a proxy server? A proxy server is a server configured to act on behalf of assigned clients. When a client application makes a request for an object on the Internet, a proxy server on the private network responds by translating the request and passing it to the Internet. When a computer on the Internet responds, the proxy server passes that response back to the client application on the computer that made the request.

The proxy server is a gateway between the private network and the Internet. A gateway is special software, or a computer running special software, that enables two different networks to communicate. The gateway acts as a barrier that allows you to make requests to the Internet and receive information, but does not allow access to your network by unauthorized users.

The Microsoft Proxy Server

Microsoft Proxy Server provides an easy, secure way to bring Internet access to every desktop in an organization.

A Proxy Server is software that listens for requests and performs a service in response. Microsoft Proxy Server listens to the computers on your private network; when a client application makes a request, Microsoft Proxy Server responds by translating the request and passing it to the Internet. When a computer on the Internet responds, Microsoft Proxy Server passes that response back to the client application on the computer that made the request.

Microsoft Proxy Server supports all Internet protocols, including WWW (HTTP), FTP, RealAudio (streaming audio), VDOLive (streaming video), IRC (Internet Relay Chat), and mail and news protocols. Support for Novell's IPX/SPX transport means that deployment of TCP/IP on a private network is unnecessary. Internet sites can be accessed by Web browsers running on any operating system, and by all 16-bit and 32-bit Windows Sockets applications, with no modifications to the applications.

Advantages of using the Microsoft Proxy Server

• Extend Internet applications to every desktop on your private network.

  You can use Microsoft Proxy Server to establish access for all of your private network clients quickly and easily. Clients can be set up for proxy access in minutes. In some cases, Microsoft Proxy Server can also eliminate the need to install and support additional protocol drivers for each clients desktop.

• Improve performance and access for Internet-based services on your private network.

  Microsoft Proxy Server caches frequently accessed documents to ensure the immediate availability of fresh data. Cached copies of popular Web pages can be maintained locally and updated automatically, based on a study of cache usage. Microsoft Proxy Server also builds upon the high performance and scaleability of Microsoft Windows NT Server for application services.

• Provide secure access between your private network and the Internet.

  An administrator can configure Microsoft Proxy Server to grant or deny outbound Internet access by user, service, port, or IP domain. Access to specific domain sites can be blocked easily. In addition, Microsoft

   Server takes advantage of security features built into Windows NT

• Integrate proxy services closely within your current network operating system.

  Microsoft Proxy Server provides tight integration with Windows NT Server and Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS), resulting in a high level of performance and ease of administration.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please refer to the Microsoft Proxy Server documentation included with the software.