Internet Connectivity  «Prev  Next»

Lesson 1

Internet Connectivity using Microsoft Proxy Server

In this module, you will evaluate and create Internet connectivity solutions using Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0[1].
Organizations connect to the Internet to provide Internet access to users on the private network and to allow users on the Internet access to private network resources. The Internet connectivity solution must prevent unauthorized users from accessing private network resources.
Microsoft® Proxy Server 2.0® provides solutions to Internet connectivity requirements for Microsoft Windows® 2000 networks. Proxy Server is a group of services that is not included with Windows 2000, but that runs on Windows 2000.
At the end of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Define the features of Proxy Server
  2. Explain the factors that determine the appropriateness of a Proxy Server solution
  3. Describe the benefits of integrating Proxy Server with other networking services
  4. Describe the decisions involved in creating a functional Internet-connectivity Proxy Server solution
  5. Identify the decisions involved in the placement of Proxy Server within a network
  6. Describe how to select the Proxy Server interface characteristics that affect the integration of the Proxy Server into the network
  7. Identify the Proxy Server client requirements to be included in the Proxy Server design

  1. List the design decisions for a proxy server solution
  2. Describe the benefits of integrating proxy server
  3. Describe how to place proxy server within a network
  4. Select Proxy Server interface characteristics that will affect its integration
  5. Identify which Proxy Server client requirements you will include in your design

Proxy Server

A proxy server is a system that sits between the client applications (e.g., Microsoft Edge) and the connection to the Internet (server). The proxy server intercepts requests to the Internet to determine whether the proxy server can act on the requests itself. This process filters requests to the Internet and thereby improves performance. The proxy server can cache files that it downloads from the Internet for a client. For example, if a user requests the same page as another user, the proxy server can return the version it is holding in its cache rather than send a request on the Internet. Proxy servers can also act as a firewall by filtering IP traffic by port or IP address. Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 performs all of the typical proxy server functions but includes extra functions such as Winsock proxy. Proxy Server 2.0 replaces Winsock on the client machines so that Winsock-based clients (e.g., Windows 95) can use Winsock proxy to enable IP-type access even when the local network protocol is, for example, IPX. You can also use Proxy Server 2.0 to hide your network's TCP/IP configuration because the software lets you use any TCP/IP address on your Intranet as the only proxy server IP address for use on the Internet.
In the next lesson, you will learn more about the features of Proxy Server.
[1]Proxy Server 2.0 also includes the Socks proxy service for non-Winsock-type clients such as UNIX-based machines.