Proxy

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An explanation of proxy use in PC Linux OS would be helpful.

When do you use IP:Port vs //server/folder/file

[newklear]

Hi Pete, I see there have been a few reads but no answers as of yet, I don't know either to be honest.
Not entirely sure what you are asking.

Only time I use "IP:Port" is when I am connecting to IRC or to a BNC, even ssh'ing I use a different format.
"//server/folder/file" I only use when browing, editing or copying certain files or folders to and fro.

As for a proxy use in Linux via a browser, i.e Opera has a built in Proxy when you enable Turbo Mode.

Otherwise using Squid is the other way I am aware of and that is probably the way you want to go right?
[PCLinux Control Center] aka [PCC] > Networking Services > Configure proxy, then follow the guide.

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The network at work uses a proxy server to access the internet.
The server details are located in a proxy script.
I can download the script and look at it any time to get the IP addresses of the existing proxy servers.

Firefox can also load the script and apply it automatically every time it runs.
All I have to do is tell Firefox in the Network/Setting window, the location and name of the script.

Squid is a little different.
Squid wants the IP address and port of the proxy.
This is fine for a day or so, but when the proxy changes,
I will have to re-download the script and read it
to then go into Squid and update the IP and port
so Squid understands where the proxy is.

Squid should be able to access the proxy script just like Firefox,
but it doesn't.

Synaptic also needs to know the IP address and port in order to get
to the Internet and access the distros.
If Squid could translate for the OS, then all of the applications
could access the internet without a problem.

Are there any other options to do this in PC Linux OS ?


Pete...

[pags]

An explanation of proxy use in PC Linux OS would be helpful.

When do you use IP:Port vs //server/folder/file

Are you looking to run a proxy (server) in PCLOS, or access an existing one?

With regards to IP:Port vs. //server/folder/file, they are very different...

IP:Port is used at a "lower" network level (the "IP" of "TCP/IP"..."TCP" is "Transmission Control Protocol", and "IP" is "Internet Protocol"...they are the "carriers" of higher protocol layers, such as HTTP, FTP, SSH, SMB, NFS, etc)

//server/folder/file is used at the "higher" levels, such as HTTP (web browsing), SMB (Windows file sharing), etc


For the IP:Port scenario, the Port would be specified if a server process (such as a webserver, or file server) is listening on a non-standard port.  When a standard port is used, it is assumed to try it (so, for a web server, which usually uses port 80 is accessed, for instance, via //server/folder/file, the computers assumes you mean //server:80/folder/file).  If you decide to run your webserver on the non-standard port of, for example, 12345, then you need to explicitly tell the computer to access //server:12345/folder/file, otherwise the request will not go the the correct process running the webserver located on //server/.

I know this rambles a bit, but maybe it will help explain it some.  If you want more detailed explanaations, just ask for clarification of the points you want explained...

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Being the newbie that I am, I did not realize what SQUID does for Linux.
Now that I do, I don't need it for what I am trying to accomplish.

If I set the correct parameters in Firefox, I can browse the web at work.
If I set the correct parameters in Synaptic, I can update my installation from work.
 
If I go into 'Configure Your Desktop\Network and Connectivity\Network Settings\Proxy'
and set the proxy to the location of the Network proxy script file, (//server/folder/file)
why doesn't it set it properly for all of my applications, as well as Linux OS

Pete...