Running WinProxy with AOL as an ISP
WinProxy works seamlessly when America Online is your standard Internet Service Provider, with this caveat: when AOL is your ISP, you cannot use other AOL browsers on your client machines for access. However, you can access the Internet with any other Internet applications on any client computers.
Manually Assigning IP Addresses to Client Computers
To begin, you must (1) install AOL on the server computer, and (2) verify that you have a working connection to AOL before you can utilize WinProxy.
Once you've accomplished these tasks, the next step is to assign IP addresses to the computers on your network, verifying that they can "see" the proxy computer. To do so:
Open a DOS Prompt.
Using the "ping" command, ping the IP address of the proxy computer. (See Chapter 4, "Adding TCP/IP to Your Network," for more information about pinging.)
WinProxy includes a Dynamic Host Control Protocol server. More commonly known as a DHCP server, it can assign IP addresses to the computers on your internal network. If you want to use the DHCP server built into WinProxy, set your client computers to Obtain an IP address automatically and disable DNS. After WinProxy has been configured, it will then assign IP addresses, Gateway information and DNS information to each system.
Figure 2.13: The Install Wizard's First Screen.
You are now ready to install WinProxy. Run the installation file. Once all files have been installed onto your computer WinProxy will ask you to restart the system. Once you have rebooted and the operating system is back up, WinProxy will automatically start the Installation Wizard. The First screen you will see is the one below:
When it asks you if you are using AOL as your Service Provider, click Yes and then Next. The next screen you will get is this:
Figure 2.14: Take the time to read the Client Configuration Document.
We strongly suggest that you read the Client Configuration document that will appear at the Wizard's conclusion. It will allow you to fully understand the restrictions in play when using AOL as your ISP. Click the Next to get to this screen:
Figure 2.15: Entering a password with the Install Wizard.
Enter the password for your Default screen name. Each AOL account allows up to five different usernames; you must enter in the password for the original account. Once entered, press Next. At this point WinProxy will test your connection out to AOL and verify all information. If, for some reason, something fails, WinProxy gives you the option of going back and changing the information you entered.
Once WinProxy checks and okays the settings, you can begin using the program.
Having WinProxy Assign Client Computer IP Addresses
As mentioned earlier, WinProxy can assign IP addresses and other pertinent information to the client computers so they can connect through WinProxy. All you need to do to set this in motion for each individual computer is, Reboot.
When you return to the operating system, request an IP address. WinProxy will assign a unique IP address to that computer. Once you've done this, each client computer's browser can be used as soon as it's opened. WinProxy will automatically detect connection requests and connect to AOL. Upon connection, the main WinProxy window will look like this:
Figure 2.16: What you'll see when you're successfully connected.
You can change any of the connection settings, at any time, by clicking File/Settings/Dial-Up Settings on the General Tab.
Figure 2.17: A sample installation.
Browser Tricks
With the installation as shown, WinProxy will automatically dial the chosen AOL connection whenever a client machine tries to access the net, just as it does normally. However, the AOL browser on the WinProxy machine appears as an icon in the taskbar. You cannot click on this icon to see the aol browser and access your account.
If you want to use that browser to access your AOL account while other computers are accessing the net, you must (a) disable the WinProxy dial-up; (2) start WinProxy; (3) start the AOL browser; and, finally (4) dial-in yourself via the AOL browser.
The browser will remain up and accessible to your account and WinProxy-and, therefore, to the client computers. You sacrifice having WinProxy in charge of the connection, so you'll have to hang it up yourself.
NOTE TO LAN ADMINISTRATORS:When using AOL as an ISP, WinProxy must be your DNS server. You cannot successfully use a DNS server from another local machine.
