How to Setup a Proxy, and When You Should.

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How to Put a Proxy Between You and the 'Net 

Without a Proxy, You're Browsing Naked 

Even if you're not familiar with proxies, you've no doubt stumbled across the term once or twice while setting up a network or Internet connection. Simply put, a proxy is an "intermediary" between your computer and the Internet, a tunnel through which all incoming and outgoing traffic must pass. 

To the rest of the world, a proxy "looks and acts" like an individual server, with it's own IP address and associated details. This provides many advantages, some are useful for personal browsing, and many are highly desirable for connecting a larger personal or business network to the Internet. 

Anonymity is a major factor with proxies.
 

Connecting to the Internet without a proxy might put out more information that you want, up to and including your home location. Many sites and services can be denied or at least limited to you based upon your IP address; this is especially true for site blocking and censorship by ISPs, employers, schools, governments, etc. 

Some people simply want to limit their information out of principle, while others have good reason to keep their activities away from too many prying eyes. These reasons can be as innocuous as needing to see websites whose content is tailored to another region (for example, getting the "homeland" version of a website rather than the "international" version), but there's no doubt that the anonymity can serve much more nefarious purposes as well. 

On the other hand, you can also use proxies to do the blocking and filtering.
 

If you're running a network and you want to blacklist (or whitelist) sites for security and productivity purposes, a proxy is often far more flexible than a firewall or other similar solutions. By implementing controls and filtering, a proxy can be used to limit the connections that can be made from or to anyone "behind" the proxy. 

You can also use a proxy to keep track of the things that people (for example, employees and children) are doing with the Internet connection (for example, spending half the day on Facebook or porn sites). Browsing history and bandwidth usage statistics are among the things that can be recorded using a proxy server. 

Proxies are also useful to increase performance and make data traffic more efficient.
 

Caching is the oldest and most common use for a proxy, storing web pages and resources so that they don't need to be "built" from scratch every time they're accessed. With a single gateway or "reverse proxy", the aforementioned security and filtering benefits can be applied once to a single connection rather than to all of the network's servers, as can SSL and encryption controls. Traffic control allows distributing or "load balancing" incoming connections, in addition to managing the bandwidth priority and DNS details of individual servers and internal networks behind the proxy. 

Options for setting up your proxy

 

There are a few ways to set up a proxy server, and the choice you make depends on your needs, your level of comfort with network tasks, and whether you have some server space available or not. 

Open Yourself Up to Proxies
 

If anonymity is your sole concern, you can start with an "open proxy". These are freely available services that allow you to connect with any browser to an offsite proxy server for anonymous access to websites. Most of the "IP anonymizers" found on the web are open proxies, and they generally get the job done -- not simply for people exercising their right to privacy, but also for spamming and malware distribution. 

This has led government censors, ISPs, email servers, and other to be suspicious of open proxies, and to block or track traffic from anonymous proxies (open or otherwise). Many servers that run open proxies keep logs of incoming IP addresses, and those logs can be seized or made available. Ironically, this means that you could potentially be less "anonymous" on a proxy server than you would have been by connecting directly. 

Another issue commonly reported is the incompatibility of proxies with certain websites. Java is a particular source of issues, but various complex frameworks (especially apps within a site) can make proxies problematic. You may indeed find that some of your most visited sites have reduced functionality, making a proxy less attractive. 

Personal Proxies
 

A slightly more involved route would be to install an application or browser plug-in that establishes a proxy server utilizing a specified IP address and port. This is the usual method for personal home networks, but also perfectly suitable for many business network needs. Some applications automatically change settings or walk you through the process, but it's more likely that you'll need to manually enter the correct LAN IP and DNS settings via the Control Panel. 

The method differs between operating systems and versions. Windows 7 conveniently passes along the necessary settings to any browsers or Internet applications, but there still may be some exceptions that need to be entered manually in the apps themselves. 

One final note on VPNs.
 

If you're looking into proxies, you may also want to consider a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for many of the same benefits and results. VPNs and proxies are not synonymous, but both provide control over IP addresses, with many of the same security, anonymity, and traffic management functions. Bot are also available as free personal software as well as enterprise-level server-based solutions. VPNs also offer additional advantages such as remote access and "thin client" OS booting / emulating options.

About the Author: Porter Olson is a writer and content specialist for UsBundles.

The Ten Benefits of Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2400-2480 MHz) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. Created by telecoms vendor Ericsson in 1994, it was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.

Bluetooth has a lot to offer with an increasingly difficult market place. Bluetooth helps to bring with it the promise of freedom from the cables and simplicity in networking that has yet to be matched by LAN (Local Area Network).

In the key marketplace, of wireless and handheld devices, the closest competitor to Bluetooth is infrared.  Infrared holds many key features, although the line of sight it provides doesn't go through walls or through obstacles like that of the Bluetooth technology.

Image via Wikipedia

Unlike infrared, Bluetooth isn't a line of sight and it provides ranges of up to 100 meters. Bluetooth is also low power and low processing with an overhead protocol.  What this means, is that it's ideal for integration into small battery powered devices.  To put it short, the applications with Bluetooth are virtually endless. 

Below are the ten benefits of using Bluetooth Technology.

1.  Bluetooth is Wireless, as you probably already know; there are many benefits and advantages to using wireless devices.  Along with improving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don't need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages.  When traveling with your laptop or other wireless devices, you'll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables.

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2.  Bluetooth is actually inexpensive the technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company?  These savings are then passed from the company on to you.

3.  Bluetooth is automatic Bluetooth doesn't have you set up a connection or push any buttons.  When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will automatically begin to communicate without you having to do anything. 

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4.  Standardized protocol Bluetooth is standardized wireless, meaning that a high level of compatibility among devices is guaranteed.  Bluetooth will connect devices to each other, even if they aren't the same model.

5.  Low interference Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference from other wireless devices.  Bluetooth uses a technique known as frequency hopping, and also low power wireless signals.

6.  Low energy consumption As a result of Bluetooth using low power signals, the technology requires very little energy and will use less battery or electrical power as a result. This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices, as Bluetooth won't drain the battery.

7.  Sharing voice and data The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible devices to share data and voice communications. This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your cell phone.

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8.  Instant PAN (Personal Area Network) you can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming a piconet or PAN.  For a single room, you can also set up multiple piconets.

9.  Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth. There are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works, which offer many new advantages and backward compatible with older versions.

10.  The technology stays Bluetooth technology is a worldwide, universal wireless standard.  With it being as popular as it is, you can count on it being around for years to come.  As more and more devices start to use Bluetooth technology, more manufacturers will be eager to make their products compatible. A chain reaction will occur, making Bluetooth the standard for cutting edge wireless.

How to do a Simple LAN Cabling

Local Area network is the smallest example of the bigger internet, it can be located in a single room or across a whole building from the ground floors to the penthouse. Still it is also located in several building that is closely located which other ad can be accessible easily by a few seconds or minute of walking. In a Local Area Network computers and other peripherals devices can be shared and connection via cable and wireless means, even your smartphone can also be connected via a WIFI spot. But standard connection is still via the old cable, not just any cable but a group of smaller cable banded and twisted to form a larger cable called a Twisted Pair Cable.

The correct technical term for this cable is Category 5 cable (Cat 5). A cat 5 cable is a twisted pair cable for carrying signals. This type of cable is used in structured cabling for computer networks such as Ethernet. It is also used to carry other signals such as telephony and video. The cable is commonly connected using punch down blocks and modular connectors. Most Category 5 cables are unshielded, relying on the twisted pair design and differential signaling for noise rejection. Category 5 has been superseded by the Category 5e (enhanced) specification.

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Maximum cable segment length

Now  like all type of cable the CAT 5 cable use in LAN has also its maximum limit between devices such as computer and switch. According to the ANSI/TIA/EIA standard for category 5e copper cable (TIA/EIA 568-5-A), the maximum length for a cable segment is 100 meters (328 feet). If longer runs are required, the use of active hardware such as a repeater, or a switch, is necessary. The specifications for 10BASE-T networking specify a 100 meter length between active devices. This allows for 90 meters of fixed cabling, two connectors and two patch leads of 5 meters, one at each end.

Now that you know a few simple facts regarding the cable used in LAN, we need to know hoe to connect your basic computer to the central devices which could be a HUB or Switch. Actually there a four pairs of wire twisted inside the main cable. First we need to removed the main protective cover of the cable and expose those four pair of smaller wires twisted together.

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From the picture above you can see four pair of wires that was twisted which each other hence the name Twisted Pair. Actually there are several cable configuration for structured cabling for LAN but for today we are going to focus on the Computer and Hub/Switch connection the common one. Just like what i said before we need to untangle all the twisted pair of cables and we need to straighten them out. We need to do that, gently massage each cable after untangling them to straighten them. Do this until all the pairs have been straighten. 

This may be hard on your hand so  make sure not to rush it, there is a reason why we need to straighten them out as you will see later. Before we go any further, make sure that you have the following tools with you. A scissor and a Crimping tool, the scissor is going to be used for cutting the cable once we have configured them properly and the crimping tool is the one we are going to used to lock the cable inside the plastic connector called the RJ-45. Now lets do the cabling for a regular connection of computer to hub/switch connection. just follow this color coding.

Look for the first color in our sequence which has the the color pattern of White-Orange. There are only four main color code for the cable they are Orange, Green, Blue and Brown. The other cable is the alter ego for the main, that why you will see that for Orange there the White-Orange, Blue has White-Blue, Green has White-Green and Brown has White Brown. Now back to the sequence make sure to locate the cable in our sequence and that is the White-Orange. For a better and quick know how just look at the picture below.

LAN Cabling Pattern

Once you have achieved the color pattern shown on the picture above hols the twisted pair tightly and massage them to really straighten all the cable out. Now once all the cable have been straighten out, use the scissors to cut the the length of the cable so that external sleeve is just right inside the lock of the RJ-45 plastic connector when you insert all the cable pair together. This is a very delicate process, when inserting the cable inside the  RJ45 connector make sure that all the end part of the twisted par reach all the way to the wall of the inside part of the connector. 

cat5 [P1160038] (Photo credit: the_green_squirrel)

 

This is important because hen we lock the cable in place we need to make sure the the metal plate inside each canal of the RJ45 pierces the thin cover of the twisted pair so that there will be contact made between the metal plate and the cable. Now use the crimping tool to lock the cable inside the RJ45, we need to press hard and firmly to lock the cable and to make sure that the metal plate inside is touching the copper cable of each wire. Now do the same cable pattern on the other end of the cable where we need to put another RJ45 connector.

To check if the cable is working insert the other at the back of the PC while insert the other end on one of the port of the HUB/Switch. Please observe if you can connect to the internet or browse other computer on the LAN, better yet ping your LAN server. If all of this is unsuccessful or partially successful then you need to redo the cabling until you get the right connection and configuration.

Computer 101: Computer Network Basic Part 2

On the previous post we explained the function of the client or workstation computer and server computer. To complete our basic computer network a third component is needed and these is where the Hub or Switch come in. The basic look for this two network component is a rectangular size box with lots of square shape holes in the front face.

This square shape holes is called PORT. The function of these ports is to connect the patch cable from your client computer and or the server computer. Normally these ports come in even numbers from 4, 8, 16, or 32 ports per devices. They also have lights per port to indicate proper connection and data collision. If the lights of the port that has a patch cable connected to it is blinking then it means there is flow of data from the ports to the client computer or form the server computer and vice versa.

Basic Network Component

Normally an orange light is use to indicate collision in a network. The function of the Hub or switch is to link the client computer and server computer. They also see to it that a data does not get lost during the transmission from the server to the client that is requesting it. In today’s most demanding LAN a more evolve Switch is being used rather than a simple hub. Switch has more brains packed into its circuit compare to a normal hub. But a hub is less costly than a Switch. If your network is a corporate type then a switch is more suitable to do the job. For a less demanding network like a internet cafe network then a hub is well suited for this job in terms of function and cost.

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Now earlier I mention the word Patch Cable. Now what is that and how does it function in a network. The term Patch cable simply refers to the standard twisted pair cable plus the RJ45 plastic connector. The cable is so called twisted pair because when you open up the inside of the main rubber like cover of the cable you will see five pairs of smaller wire which has a color code twisted by two. So there are five pairs of twisted wire that comprises the main twisted pair cable. Also the RJ45 connector has ten small teeth like metal wherein a crimping tool is needed to force these small teeth like metal to bite those individual pair of cable inside a twisted pair to complete a patch cable.



But I say but you cannot just connect those small cable with the RJ45 connector in any fashions there is a proper way of doing it. This proper way is called standard cabling. In this standard cabling there is a set of color code that we need to follow in order for the patch cable to work. Also you have to make sure that the code is correct and that the wire inside the RJ45 is properly and tightly crimp. Otherwise we risk the network not work properly and wasting the RJ45. Once the twisted is crimp onto the RJ45 there is no way to removed it other than cutting the cable and the RJ45 can no longer be used.

We will not go into the color coding of each cable here.I did a small explanation regarding on how assemble a patch cable so that we would have the basic understanding on how it works in the network. But there are far more concept and information regarding your computer network than compare to what we have talk about in this blog. We haven’t touch on the type of Topologies involve, type of LAN involve whether it is a peer-to-peer network of a client-server network. Another thing is in a common corporate LAN of today, there are more than two server’s involve. To name a few there’s the common File server, the Domain controller which usually comes in two then there’s the Print Server where all the printer resources is located. 

Then there the Exchange Server for all the emails and there the Application server. There is no fixed number of servers that a corporate LAN can have. It can be two or more depending on the needs of the company. The entire server mentioned above has each own function in a network. They several of this to handle specific jobs for the network. It would troublesome if only one computer server is assign to do the entire task mentioned above for a server. Imagine one person doing five or more works simultaneously. So the need for each specific server to do each specific job assign or program to it. More network component as the network goes bigger and wider from LAN to MAN to WAN or the Ultimate WAN the INTERNET.

Computer 101: Computer Network basic

In today’s age and time, the computer network has evolve into a system that has integrated every available devices capable of plugging itself therefore becoming part of the bigger collection of computer devices that has been connected.  But before we proceed let go back to the basic of computer network. What is computer network? Better yet what is the proper term to describe a computer network.  There are three correct and right term to describe a computer network. Yup there are three, this is because the location or land area where the network is very important in describing the kinds of network.

Local Area Network

For a computer network located on a single building big or small, it doesn’t matter how many floor’s are there as long as it is in one building then it can be classified as a LAN or Local Area Network. Now the word LOCAL is pretty straight forward you already know what it means. Before we go into the other two types of network we will focus on this network the LAN. What basically is a LAN, as the name implies it is a network located on a small area typically a building whether large or small but one single building only. Remember scope of the location for a LAN is one single building only. If there are two or more building then it is no longer a LAN but the next type of network called a MAN or Metropolitan Area Network.

 But let’s focus on the LAN. What are the components of a LAN? The basic components of a typical LAN are the workstation, server and network component such as HUB, SWITCH and ROUTER. This is the BASIC components, which mean there are other computers of a more highly developed LAN. But the first two basic component of a LAN is the workstation and the server. What are they and how do they function in a LAN. First the WORKSTATION, well it one can also be called the client, terminal, node and other term that a person uses to gain access the information stored on a server. Those terms that have been mentioned all describe the function of the computer that a person uses to do his/her work, process job, access data, store’s data from the or to the server. A basic example of this is the LAN in an internet café where. People paid for certain length of time to use the computer on that internet cafe to play network games, do a typing job, read the online version of their favorite news paper, read their emails, chat or talk online with their family or friends. Still other do documents printing, image capture or scanning an image to upload it online via your favorite social site. Look for jobs, watch a favorite movie or video or download all kinds of stuff from the internet or just simply looking for information.

 

All of the things mentioned above and much more cannot be achieve or it cannot be done without using a workstation, client or a terminal.  So basically it is a computer that a real person uses to get information or do a job in a LAN or network. Now for the server which located at the other end of the communication line. The server is basically a computer that holds all the information. A person needs to use a client or workstation to access this information located on the server computer. Imagine if in an typical office where there are ten worker that need different types of information and as stated before all this kind of information is located on the server, but they do not have a network. So getting that different type of information will take time because each worker will to take in turns to use the server. But with a network and each ten worker has each own computer to access the server simultaneously as compare to individually using the same computer directly. Then more time is save and more job is done is a short possible time consumed.

That is the basic function and role of these two kinds of computer on a LAN or network. Yes they both computer’s but the hardware and software component is very different, the server is the more stronger or powerful one because simply put it, it need s to be because it function require it to accommodate simultaneous job request from the workstation or client computer. It has more memory; larger hard drives faster processor and a bit different set of software installed in it compare a more user friendly software installed on a workstation or client computer. Not all people in a company can used or has access to the server directly, only one or two person is allowed direct access or usage of the server computer, compare to a workstation or client computer where almost all employee in the company can use these type of computer. More on this topic on my next post.