iNet Over Matter - Internet Protocols - Proxy An Internet Resource Page by: Bob in Houston -

Description
    A network proxy is a server between a client like Navigator or Explorer on your computer and a server on the Internet where content is provided. Proxy servers are optionally made available for customer use by Internet Service Providers as they see fit to do so. 

    Proxies are used on the Internet to speed up access, help alleviate network traffic, avoid bottlenecks, download objects like web pages and their elements faster and to filter the transfer of selected information. When web pages were largely static and generally written in basic html, proxies worked quite well. In this day of fast changing web pages and web pages that include devices that require direct access to your browser, proxy use can be a disaster for everyday users.

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Function -How proxies Work:
(diagram)
    With the option to use proxies enabled in your browser, your web browser will first try to load web pages from the configured proxy; or a proxy configuration can intercept requests for a URL. If the page is not on the proxy it will be downloaded from the original address on the www, stored on the proxy and uploaded to your computer.
 With the option to use proxies NOT enabled in your browser, all URL requests will be downloaded from the original address on the www.

Prodigy explains their change from using proxy servers to not using proxy servers thus.
    "The proxy server can display a Web page quickly from its own cache, rather than going to the actual Web site and getting the page from there. However, since most Web sites change frequently, like the Prodigy Internet Homepage, the proxy has to go out to the content provider to get the latest page anyway. Since about 75% of Web sites change regularly, you're actually slowed down when you have the proxy settings turned on. Also, for sites that are updated frequently, the proxy server will not always show a very recent Web page update, and there are some cases where Web sites are not retrievable through proxy servers."
    "Changing your browser's proxy settings (turning them off) can improve the speed at which the Prodigy Internet Homepage loads. We will be eventually removing proxy servers from our network and we strongly advise you to turn your proxy settings off. It's simple to do; just follow the instructions below for your browser."
© 1999 Prodigy Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.
http://help.prodigy.net/member_content/pi_access/proxy_settings.html

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Setting proxy use in your web browser:
Turn them OFF in your browsers | Netscape | MSIE | Opera | Arachne |

ie3 - View | Options | Connections | [Settings]
    UNcheck Connect through a proxy server
        [Apply]     [OK]
(Screen shot)

ie4 - View | Internet Options | Connections | [Settings]
    UNcheck Accessing the Internet using a proxy server
        [Apply]     [OK]
(Screen shot)

ie5 - Tools | Internet Options | Connections | [Settings]
    UNcheck Use a proxy server
        [Apply]     [OK]
(Screen shot)

Netscape v.3.0x
Options | Network Preferences | Proxies
    Check No Proxies
        [ok]
(Screen shot)

Netscape v.4.0x and 4.xx
Edit | Preferences.... | Advanced | Proxies
    Check Direct Connection to the Internet
        [ok]
(Screen shot)

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Resources
 proxy server - PC Webopaedia Definition and Links
 Proxy Servers - ServerWatch Proxy Servers
 Yahoo! Computers and Internet:Software:Internet:World Wide Web:Servers:Proxies

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Copyright © 1998, 1999 Bob in Houston 
Created:  1999, month day
Updated: 1999, month day

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