Understanding how to set up a proxy server has to be done if you don’t want to be held back by limitations. The word “proxy” means “substitute” or anything that serves as an agent, an enabler. When it comes to the internet, this means using a program that acts like another or otherwise substitutes for it. In computer networks, a proxy server is a server,which acts as a mediator for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy server and requests some service, like web page or access to a file. The proxy’s job is to check out all requests and issue denials as warranted (by its set of pre-defined rules). Perhaps the most common such rule is banning access by clients on certain IP addresses.

When you want to set up a proxy server, a wide variety of choices exist out there. You might start by checking out one of the most popular proxys on the market, a piece of software called WinProxy. One reason why it’s so popular is that nothing actually needs to be installed on the client (or requester) side. NAT is available since WinProxy is a transparent proxy. This is important, since proxys are usually used for purposes of anonymity. WinProxy acts just like any other server, dealing with security issues and all the various protocols online – except when it needs to serve as a substitute, a proxy.

The WinProxy Server is easy to install and configure. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better alternative to set up a proxy server. Before you begin setting up WinProxy, install the TCP/IP protocol on all systems connected to the network. Then, install WinProxy on the system, which you want to act as the proxy server. The software can be bought from stores and also downloaded. Now once you fire up WinProxy for the first time, you should use the included setup wizard for ease and peace of mind. Like most such wizards, you’ll be prompted for your produce license serial number right away. From there the programs automated setup routine will determine your internet connection type for you. You need to select the connection’s type and name. Next,it will ask to enter the username and password of the Internet connection. WinProxy then configures the internal and external IP addresses for the network. Now perhaps the best thing of all is how it will make an internal LAN address into an anonymous IP address. The IP address that the Internet Service Provider has assigned to the modem or router becomes the external address. The external address is the IP address,which will be displayed to a user from another network,when his system interacts with any device from your network. And that’s it! WinProxy will handle everything else. Simple, just like that.