How To Merge Config Files

[Oddysey]

Bold_Fortune;

(And all other fortune hunters out there.) ((Sorry, I couldn't resist. ))

Since I too am having a problem making this forum software do what it should do, just like Jaded_Goth had his/her/it's problems earlier, I'm now putting the full text of my tutorial directly into this message. It's long, so keep scrolling. Who knows, it may be worth it. (Yeah, right. <_< )

~~~~~~~~~~~
Bold_Fortune;

As it happens, each of the other respondants has given you a piece of the puzzle; but without any explanations, that sometimes doesn't do the trick for you. I'll try to make things simple for you, and for anyone else who has to read this in the future.

To make any browser communicate with Proxo, here's what has to happen.

First we make sure Proxo is configured correctly. If you haven't already done so, open the main window, and press the Config button. Select the HTTP tab, and check out the contents thereon. One box should say "Proxmitron's proxy port number" - set that to 8080. (You can use other ports, but most documentation uses that default value. Avoid having to perform confusing conversions later - you'll thank me for this one tip alone.)

While you're here, set the local connections to persist for 5 seconds or so. Other threads on this forum deal with that setting, but this seems to be a safe "middle of the road" value. I recommend that you do not check the "Send only HTTP 1.0 requests", and for now, leave the "Use SSL..." box unchecked - we'll discuss that in a different topic/thread.

Working through the other tabs, you can set things to your personal preference, nothing else will determine how your browser deals with Proxo. (Although you might want to look at Startup, and turn on the System Tray icon, if you haven't already done so. I recommend it.)

Now, Proxo is truly ready for the world. Well, almost. In certain cases, you may be using an outside proxy server. What's that, you ask (the source of your original consternation). A proxy server is nothing more than an intermediary that sits between your computer and the server you wish to deal with. That proxy server can, and will, pass on your requests to the destination server, and when the response comes back, it will hold that response in it's own memory for awhile. That's the summary definition of a "cache". Eventually, it will release that response from the cache, but not immediately. This helps to speed up response times for everybody using that proxy server.

Additionally, a proxy server can, and often does, mask your identity as the requestor. The only ID passed to the target server is the proxy's own - your ID is effectively hidden from the server. This is the crux of anonymous surfing, and is the very backbone of the JakxPack filter set. Highly recommended if you want to stay as "unknown" as possible. Lot's of help abounds here on the forum regarding this particular filter set.

So, if you were using a proxy server, you need to tell Proxo to use it. That's the job of the "Use Remote Proxy" checkbox, and the Proxy button in the main interface window. The patched version of that main window is similar enough to get you to the correct settings. If you know that you use an external proxy, check the box, and click the button to enter your external proxy's network address. Otherwise, make sure the box is unchecked.

Now you're done with Proxo. Let's go to the browser.

Generically speaking, meaning that I refuse to look up the instructions for 10 different browsers, you need to find the "Connections" setting, and deal with it. You're using IE, which is the choice of over 90% of all web users (in spite of all the nay-sayers populating this forum), so I'll use IE's terms, but try to keep it as generic as I can.

Find your "Connections" configuration item. Make sure you are using the appropriate methodology - dial-up or LAN (LAN, of course, is for broadband users). Under either of those configuration subsets, you'll need to click on Settings. In non-IE browsers, look for something similar, but what you are looking for, specifically, is the Proxy settings dialog box. Regardless of where you find it, the first thing you should do is make sure the "Automatically detect settings" box is de-selected. Do not use any automatic configuration scripts, unless you're on a corporate network, and you abso-damn-lutely must do so.

So now you've selected the "Use a proxy server..." box - click on the Advanced button (in IE). This is where you enter 127.0.0.1 in the HTTP protocol box. (Disregard any instructions to use the word "localhost" - there is no hard and fast requirement that says localhost must be set to 127.0.0.1!) Somewhere in the vicinity (immediately to the right, in IE), enter the SAME port number you chose to use in the Proxomitron configuration. (Now you see why 8080 so often referred to - it's the default, and makes for a nice economy of typing.) Do NOT enter anything else for the other protocols. (Once again, the Secure box will be discussed in another topic/thread.)

Somewhere, you should be able to find an Exceptions list. If so, and you are using a broadband router/hub, enter the net address of that equipment in this list. The number here is almost universally 192.168.0.1, but there are some exceptions. You're on your own for this one, should your equipment use something different.

This next instruction is important - do NOT enter any external proxy server addresses in this box. I've seen that advice elsewhere on the web - it's bogus, and bad things happen to surfers who do this. (The request is passed on to the ultimate server in bypassed mode, just like it was sent to the proxy - where's the protection of Proxo?? Ditto for the response - no Proxo filtering!) The Exceptions list can indeed be used to bypass external sites - but why would you do so? (Although there was a very spirited discussion on this very thing several months ago. For now, just follow my advice. If nothing seems to work, then we can re-visit this particular topic in more depth.)

As an alternative to the above exceptions, or possibly in addition to it, you might also see a check box enabling you to "Bypass proxy server for local addresses". You can safely check that, if you wish. It will do the same job as above. (In some corporate networks, this might not be an option. In such cases, you'd have to leave it un-checked, or checked, as the NetAdmin decrees.)

At this point, you are home free - you should be able to surf with Proxo protecting your heinie! The easiest and fastest way to tell if your browser is configured correctly is to simply right click on the Proxo SysTray icon, and select "Exit". Since Proxo is no longer running, your browser should not be able to connect to the 'Net - no proxy server at 127.0.0.1:8080 (IP address and port number, separated by a colon). If you can still see websites, then one of two things is happening: either your browser is not yet correctly configured, or you are reading a web page from your browser's own cache. You can quickly eliminate the second possibility by simply surfing to a new site you've never been to before - try Oma and Opa's Grandbabies. (Then forget about it - this was only a test.) You didn't see it? Good, that means that you were drawing your other page from the browser's cache, not from the web - force a refresh from that website. (In IE, it's Control-F5.) Otherwise, you'll have to empty the cache manually before you can re-test. If you did see that miserable excuse for a website, then the browser is not yet set up correctly.

In troubleshooting, the first thing that I'd check is to make sure that you entered the same port number for both the HTTP protocol in your browser and in Proxo. This is probably the biggest "gotchya" of all. Same thing for 127.0.0.1 - sometimes the word "localhost" just isn't sufficient.

After that, make sure that "Automatically detect settings" is disabled. Ditto for any "Automatic" running of configuration scripts. If you are on a corporate network, then at this point, you'll have to ask the NetAdmin for help/advice. There's no telling how your computer "must" be set up to use the corporate network, and everything I've advised above may be null and void.

If none of this does the trick for you, then please report back to us pronto. Someone else will pick up the ball, as I will be out back breaking big rocks into little ones. Hard manuel labor will be all I'm good for, if I didn't get this tutorial right. (Or perhaps it'll be because the wife has found out I'm screwing the pooch here - one of the two!) Either way, let us know, eh?


Oddysey, Didactic Professor At Heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: This tutorial on setting up Browsers and Proxo contains no pictures. You must be able to read the English language in order to read and understand this file. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. (Sorry, the lawyers made me say that.)