Any way to automatically use the cache server?

[smartxtai]

I just setup a linux Squid cache server to cache web requests from my network of 60 computers behind a DSL line (5mbps downsteam, 354kbps? upstream).

Most people have windows machines (a few Macs out there =)) and use Internet Explorer or Netscape. Almost everybody have the "Automatically detect settings" box checked in the automatic configuration section (in IE, Tools, Internet Options, menu Connections, LAN Settings).

I would like for everybody on the network to automatically use the cache server. Is this possible?


Thanks

[AllGamer]

Just setup a Transparent Proxy

which mean Users browsers will need no changes to their default install

but regardless of their way to connect your LINUX box will always redirect the port 80 and if you like port 21 traffic through the Transparent Proxy which will redirect it to the Squid cache server

:t

[smartxtai]

Thanks Allgamer. I have another question now concerning the network. I am very puzzled by how the network has been really lagging. The ping time for this dsl line has consistently been in the 600+ ping range. The thing is, when I switch the network over to my slower dsl line (earthlink, lower downstream and lower upstream) my ping actually improves a little and my network does not lag nearly as bad as the faster dsl line.

Is there any reason why the faster dsl line is lagging worse than the slower dsl line?

Thanks.

[shadow]

In IE, check the "Use Automatic Configuration Script" in Tools....Internet Options, Connections, LAN settings. Enter the network address of the cache server. Leave all other settings the same.
I dont use Netscape.

[jmichna]

Originally posted by smartxtai
Thanks Allgamer. I have another question now concerning the network. I am very puzzled by how the network has been really lagging. The ping time for this dsl line has consistently been in the 600+ ping range. The thing is, when I switch the network over to my slower dsl line (earthlink, lower downstream and lower upstream) my ping actually improves a little and my network does not lag nearly as bad as the faster dsl line.

Is there any reason why the faster dsl line is lagging worse than the slower dsl line?

Thanks. You may want to do a bit of MTU investigative work. I'm on aDSL with a provider who recently did some "server upgrading." Ping times went way up, and previous MTU setting of 1492 (I'm on PPPoE) yielded very high ping times, timeouts, "unable to resolve..." type problems.

Leaving my router set at max 1492 MTU, I used "ping -l xxxx -f www.target-website-com" command to find the max MTU setting that would not return errors. "-l" sets the buffer size at "xxxx" (example: 1440), and "-f" sets "do not allow packet fragmentation."

Repeated over several target websites, and determined through trial and error that MTU had to be reduced to 1400-1420, due to my IP's "upgrade." I used a little app called "DrTCP" to easily set my MTU (and other settings).
jmichna

[AllGamer]

you'll need to do some home work on that, to find out why

:t