PLANET provides a proxy server for WWW and FTP. This server speeds up accesses to Web pages as well as FTP sites. Planet's proxy is powered by a Pentium200 MMX server with 64MB memory and 4.3GB of disk space. The software itis running is SQUID Proxy Server. 
PLANET users that want to use the proxy can set their options to pointto proxy.planet.edu. 
In order to use Planet's Proxy, go to ProxyConfiguration, or ProxyAuto Configuration for more information about Netscape NavigatorProxy Auto Configuration. 
 

What is a proxy?

A proxy server is a server that serves as a gateway between a local networkand the outside world. The proxy server allows various services, mainlycaching of the requests and a more secure means of obtaining documents. 
A proxy cache is a way for a client to get remote pages via the serverrather than direct from the original site. When the server gets a request,it either provides it from the cache, or gets it from the original site(while caching it here). Any future requests are answered from the localcopy of this document, thus saving multiple page transfers from abroad.Each page is downloaded only once, thus saving time and network bandwidthfor any future accesses to the cached documents. The cache will expireold entries, and will avoid caching results that are actually from programs(which may change each time called). 
 

Why should I use a proxy?

The proxy cache will help you work faster and save bandwidth. If a certaindocument is in the cache, you wouldn't have to wait for it to be transferredfrom abroad (which saves you time, and helps make the connection fasterfor other users). 
If the document you asked for is not in the cache, it would take exactlythe same amount of time for you (it will be downloaded from abroad) - butit would save a lot of time for the next user (who might very well be you)that would download this document. You have an interest in the next usergetting the document faster - the international line would be less crowded,and you would get your transfers faster. 
 

Proxy Configuration

Configure your client to have proxy.planet.edu:3128as it's proxy server if you know of no better proxy. Individual universitiesmay have local proxies which are to be preferred. Check with your localcomputer center for details: 

See the following sections for specific configuration: 

Netscape 2.0and later versions Configuration

For Netscape (Unix, Mac and Windows) versions 2.X and 3.X 
Select Network Preferences from the Options menu, then choose Proxies. 
Options  >>  Network Preferences >> Proxies. 
 
For Netscape Communicator 4.X 
Select Preferences from the Edit menu, then choose Advanced and thenProxies. 
Edit  >> Preferences  >> Advanced  >> Proxies. 

For Manual Proxy Configuration Setup, follow the following steps: 

Manual Proxy Configuration 
    1. Select 'Manual Proxy Configuration' radio button. 
    2. Press on the 'View' option. 
    3. Change Proxies and Ports as follows: 
        FTP Proxy: proxy.planet.eduPort:3128 
        HTTP Proxy: proxy.planet.eduPort:3128 
    4. Select 'OK' and then select Options - Save Options. 

To avoid using the cache when not necessary users should exclude localpages. Set the "No proxy for" box to be: "planet.edu". 
 

Internet Explorer3.0 and later

For Internet Explorer 3.0 and later, follow the following steps. 

     1. Select Options fromthe View menu. 
     2. Click on the Connection tab. 
     3. Choose the "Connect through Proxy Server"radio button and press the Proxy settings button. 
     4. Chage Proxies and Ports as follows: 
          HTTP Proxy:proxy.planet.edu Port:3128 
          FTP Proxy: proxy.planet.eduPort:3128 
     5. Select 'OK' and then select 'OK' againin the connection menu. 

To avoid using the cache when not necessary users should exclude localpages. Set the "Exceptions" box to be "*planet.edu". 
Select the "Do not use proxy server for local addresses" radio button. 
 

Mosaic Configuration

On Mosaic for UNIX , please refer to Lynux configuration. 
 
On Macintosh using Mac Mosaic, select Preferences - Gates: 
        Set WAIS Gateway: http://proxy.planet.edu 
        Turn on 'Use CERN ProxyService' and set 
        HTTP Gate: proxy.planet.edu: 3128 
        FTP Gate: proxy.planet.edu: 3128 

On a PC using Mosaic for Windows, add the following to your MOSAIC.INI(probably found in C:\WINDOWS): 
[Proxy Information] 
        http_proxy=http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        ftp_proxy=http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
 

OS/2 WebExplorerConfiguration

For the OS/2 WebExplorer: 

    1. Select Configure under the main menu. 
    2. Select Server. 
    3. Type in http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
 

Lynx and Mosaicfor Unix Configuration

If you're using lynx or Mosaic in a Bourne shell set the following environmentvariables: 

        http_proxy="http://proxy.planet.edu:3128" 
        ftp_proxy="$http_proxy" 
        export http_proxy ftp_proxy 
        no_proxy="planet.edu" 
        export no_proxy 
        Note:not all versions of Mosaic and lynx obey no_proxy. 

If you're using lynx or Mosaic in a csh or tcsh, set environment variablesbefore starting the application as follows: 

        % setenv http_proxy http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        % setenv gopher_proxy http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        % setenv ftp_proxy http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 

For Lynx you can also edit the lynx.cfg file to configure proxy usage.This has the added benefit of 
causing all Lynx users on a system to access the proxy without makingenvironment variable changes for each user. As the following: 

        http_proxy:http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        ftp_proxy:http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        gopher_proxy:http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
 

Netmanage InternetChameleon WebSurfer configuration

Netmanage WebSurfer supports manual proxy configurationand exclusion lists for hosts or domains 
that should not be fetched via proxy (this informationis current as of WebSurfer 5.0). 

Select Preferencesfrom the Settings menu >> Click on the Proxies tab >> Select the Use Proxyoptions for HTTP, FTP, and gopher. 
Fill out the following information: 
  
        http_proxy:http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        ftp_proxy:http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 
        gopher_proxy:http://proxy.planet.edu:3128/ 

 Auto Proxy Configuration 
The Netscape Navigator allows automatic configuration of the proxy thatshould be used for its request. Such configuration is done by running aJavaScript function located in the URL specified to the Navigator. 

For Automatic Proxy Configuration Setup, follow the following steps: 

    1. Select the Options >> Network Preferences >> Proxies menu 
        from the main menu in NetscapeNavigator versions 2.X and 3.X 
        and Edit  >> Preferences >> Advanced  >> Proxies  in Netscape Communicator 4.X 
    2. Select the "Automatic Proxy Configuration" radiobutton. 
    3. Enter the following URL in the URL area: http://proxy.planet.edu/proxy.pac 
    4. Select 'OK'