Topic: Just an FYI [about HTTP proxy]

[calisun]

Just a quick FYI.

I have been having issues with my windows 7 machine connecting to the internet, firefox would connect but IE would not, updates would not work and Avast updated did not work ether. But my other Ubuntu based machines did not have any problems.

After digging around I found that on SME server had HTTP proxy enabled (I don't remember enabling it)

Now after disabling HTTP proxy, everything works fine.

So don't enable HTTP proxy in Windows network.

[Stefano]

or, if you enable it, remember to configure windows accordingly
or, better, setup in transparent mode, so no configuration is needed

I'm using http proxy in many situations, w7, wXP.. no problem with avast, IE, FF, windows updates..

[calisun]

or, if you enable it, remember to configure windows accordingly
or, better, setup in transparent mode, so no configuration is needed

That is true if one knows how to setup transparent mode. I was just warning people that go into server-manager where there is only one option, "enable" or "disable" HTTP proxy.
So if anybody has any issues with networked windows machines updating, check your HTTP proxy settings.

If anyone needs to have HTTP proxy enabled for any reason, follow Stefano suggestions above.

[larieu]

Calisun

I have found this by myself also
The tricky thing is if you have for example 5 computer cloned only one start to do this kind of problems (not related to windows/IE version - It happened to me in XP, Vista, 7 ..)
and after some time it will work again

I have put this on the Proxy behaviour
I have tried to disable and reenable ( hopping that the cache will be cleared)  - but not

Stefano

if you look in wiki you'll find nothing - as usual

http://wiki.contribs.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search=clear+proxy+cache&go=Go

I remember that I have found on some other forum how to deal with the cache of the proxy
or As Calisun pointed disable for several days

if you look in forum you'll find something like this

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,49541.15.html
"it started to work after a while"

[CharlieBrady]

So if anybody has any issues with networked windows machines updating, check your HTTP proxy settings.

No, they should report via the bug tracker. Windows machines updating should work whether proxy is enabled or disabled.

[Michail Pappas]

@lariu & calisun, just a couple of questions:

1) Did you enable "automatic proxy discovery" in windows control panel -> internet settings -> connections -> lan settings?

2) Were client systems configured via DHCP or with fixed addresses? If they were configured with fixed IPs, there's a chance that even if the admin has enabled automatic proxy discovery (see (1) above), then the client will not be able to retrieve the proxy.pac proxy auto-configuration script...

OT a bit, but I prefer avoiding transparent proxying, there might be some issues with caching for example or HTTPS.

Also, Firefox has a separate setting for using automatic proxy configuration, check its proxy settings.

[larieu]

Michail Pappas

most probably 3)
3) FIXED DHCP (the mac address reserved IP on "name and addresses" on server)

for sure no check on "auto proxy" for Win XP
if you don't do nothing after a while it will start to work

or you need to erase cache form both Win client and server (deleting only one seems not to work)
the simplest way is to deactivate proxy for several hours/days

[Michail Pappas]

most probably 3)
3) FIXED DHCP (the mac address reserved IP on "name and addresses" on server)

That's good, point here is address is acquired via DHCP, therefore there's no case here of a fixed-ip client not getting WPAD-advertised proxies

for sure no check on "auto proxy" for Win XP

Now that's a problem: make sure it is checked in both control panel -> internet options (affects IE, windows updates, avast updates IIRC, Java apps and almost everything) as well as the specific Firefox settings.

Obviously, the proxy should be enabled on SME.

[chris burnat]

Subject has been modified to facilitate search.

[CharlieBrady]

Obviously, the proxy should be enabled on SME.

And nobody (especially somebody labelled as Doc team) should advise users to disable the HTTP proxy.

Perhaps subject should be "for your disinformation" rather than "FYI".

[calisun]

Perhaps subject should be "for your disinformation" rather than "FYI".

I have had this problem for few months now, first I thought it was caused by defective network card, once I replaced that and I still had issues, I replaced my wireless router. Eventually after months of frustration I finally figured out that the issue was caused by HTTP Proxy.

So yes, you are right, I should not say anything and let people be frustrated for months trying to figure out the issue by themselves.

[mmccarn]

My SME8 server is using the default proxy settings (enabled, transparent), and I've never had any trouble doing windows updates or using IE on either existing or new/transient windows computers (I bring client computers into my network for work, setup, etc).

When SME 7.0 or 7.5 was first released I had trouble with the default transparent proxy, and disabled it when setting up new servers, but haven't had any trouble with 8.x.

calisun -
Thanks for reminding folks that disabling the SME proxy can be a valuable diagnostic, and sometimes a valid work-around. 

Since I depend on the transparent proxy for maintaining historical logs of the browser traffic from my network, I'd  love to figure out why you were having problems, but a) I don't have the tech background to help much and b) I suspect you're sick of this issue by now

[CharlieBrady]

Eventually after months of frustration I finally figured out that the issue was caused by HTTP Proxy.

Since you think the problem is caused by the HTTP proxy, you should report it as a bug. Someone will (hopefully) then help you to diagnose the problem, so that it can be fixed.

So yes, you are right, I should not say anything and let people be frustrated for months trying to figure out the issue by themselves.

Now you are just being spiteful and silly.

[Michail Pappas]

@calisun: Can you provide some info on your network? SME is obviously in server and gateway mode, correct? Was it upgraded from 7.X? If you check "Automatic proxy confguration" in IE (see some posts above), does it work?

[CharlieBrady]

@calisun: Can you provide some info on your network? SME is obviously in server and gateway mode, correct? Was it upgraded from 7.X? If you check "Automatic proxy confguration" in IE (see some posts above), does it work?

calisun should open the bug report and provide the information there. Michail, please come and help with troubleshooting in the bug tracker when calisun opens the report. Thanks.