WinProxy is available from Ositis Software. They have a WinProxy Lite version for small networks that allows three clients to connect from one internet connection simultaneously as well as versions for larger networks. The WinProxy server (the computer that WinProxy is installed on) should be the computer with your internet connection. All client computers will connect to the proxy server for external communications. For simple browser access with HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, etc. configuring TCP/IP on your local network is enough. Additional access such as SOCKS, AOL and Java will require that you set up DNS on your local system. Each machine will be a DNS client; the WinProxy machine will also have DNS server duties. To configure the WinProxy machine you will need to set up the internal network card by assigning a unique IP addresss and enabling DNS. Then configure DNS services in WinProxy and enable any other protocols (SOCKS, AOL, RealAudio) that you will be using.
- In the Windows Control Panel , click Network .
- Select the TCP/IP stack for your internal network card and click on Properties for your internal network card.
- Select the IP Address tab.
- Each machine must have unique IP address. The people at WinProxy recommend using the range 90.0.0.1 to 90.0.0.254 and Wingate documention I have suggest 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.0.254 with both suggesting the same subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 which is not routable onto the internet.
- Select the DNS Configuration tab.
- Select Enable DNS .
- In Host , enter the name of this machine. The name is available from Control Panel/Network/Identification .
- Under Domain , enter your local domain name.
- Under DNS Service Search Order enter the IP address of this machine followed by your service providers primary and secondary DNS servers.
- You have finished configuring your network settings. Press OK twice and Windows 95 will proceed to reboot your computer.
The next step is configuring DNS in WinProxy.
- From the WinProxy menu, select File, Advanced Properties , and Protocols .
- Check the box labeled DNS and click DNS Setup .
- Add your service providers primary and second DNS servers to Current DNS Server List .
- Under Domain ,enter the name of your local domain.
- Leave the box labeled Proxy DNS through TCP unchecked.
When Winproxy has been configured correctly you should be able to use all your applications such as irc clients, email and real audio accross your network connection. WinProxy is somewhat forgiving of errors, meaning it will give you http, https and ftp service with minor errors in the configuration.



David Risley is the founder of PCMech.com. He is the brains, the thinker, the writer, the nerd.

