Introduction

Microsoft has produced many products to aid in securing your network a notable security product is Proxy Server 2.0. Proxy Server 2.0 is not only designed to secure your network, but it is also designed to help speed up your Internet connections. Proxy Server 2.0 is designed to allow you to manage network security in a number of ways, through inbound and outbound access control, packet filtering, and even dial-in access.

Proxy Server 2.0 can cache frequently visited Web pages, speeding up browsing access for your users, and it can even be integrated in Novell environments. This Microsoft package is very versatile in its application on your network. This chapter will discuss the components of MS Proxy Server 2.0, how to configure and troubleshoot it, some common applications, and potential security risks associated with it.

Components of Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0

Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 consists of many different components and services, including Web Proxy Service, Winsock Proxy Service, SOCKS Proxy Service, Reverse Proxy, and Reverse Hosting. As an administrator, you ll have to decide which of these services you ll employ on your network, and your decision will need to be based on the infrastructure of the network as well as what each service offers. Each of the following services has limitations on protocols offered, clients serviced, and browsers that are supported. In order to make an informed and appropriate decision, you ll need to know the facts about all of them. Each of these components will be described in detail in...