proxy server question

[Jeff]

Our department sets up new computers for clients. We open the box,
install software, apply updates, update virus software, etc. Our
department lan uses a proxy server, which is off-limits to us, so we
are not allowed to change it at all. Our problem is that we much
manually enter the proxy into each XP machine, and sometimes we forget
to take it out. Many of these computers are going to other networks,
or homes, and we are taking a lot of calls from angry clients about
removing the proxy.

Is there a way to put a windows 2000 server machine or a linux machine
between our switch and the lan connecton that will allow us to skip
the step of entering the proxy url? To put it another way, can we
make the proxy server transparent? I've heard of transparent
proxying, but as I understand it is a different thing. Any help would
be appreciated.
-Jeff

 

[Fred Marshall]

Our department sets up new computers for clients. We open the box,
install software, apply updates, update virus software, etc. Our
department lan uses a proxy server, which is off-limits to us, so we
are not allowed to change it at all. Our problem is that we much
manually enter the proxy into each XP machine, and sometimes we forget
to take it out. Many of these computers are going to other networks,
or homes, and we are taking a lot of calls from angry clients about
removing the proxy.

Is there a way to put a windows 2000 server machine or a linux machine
between our switch and the lan connecton that will allow us to skip
the step of entering the proxy url? To put it another way, can we
make the proxy server transparent? I've heard of transparent
proxying, but as I understand it is a different thing. Any help would
be appreciated.

Your problem needs a bit better explanation. Are you saying that you don't
want to deliver the computers expecting DHCP? That would be the normal
default I should think. So, I guess this means that the proxy server
doesn't have DHCP enabled?

Well, probably a lot depends on the proxy server. But you might do this:

Let's assume that the proxy server IP address is 192.168.1.1 and, I guess it
doesn't have DHCP enabled. So, cascade the network address translation
through a simple router. The router would have "outside" IP address
192.168.1.xxx and "inside" IP address 192.168.0.1 and DHCP would be enabled.
Now the computers connected to the router get their IP addresses via DHCP.

Well, if that's the issue...... Or are you talking about putting the proxy
server IP address in the web browser on the object machine?

Fred

 

[Jeff]

We have a separate dhcp server and proxy server. Computers connecting
to our wireless or wired networks get assigned an ip (in the 10.*.*.*
range) and are able to use network resources like shared folders. To
access the internet, a proxy server address must be manually entered
into the browser. The proxy filters content, etc. It is this proxy
entry that we are occaisionally failing to remove, and clients go home
and find they have no internet.
I hope this clears it up.
-Jeff