About the JCU WWW Server

• Who Administers the JCU WWW server?

• What is JCU's URL?

• What is www.jcu.edu.au?

• What HTTP server do we run?

• The JCU Proxy Caching server
  • Why you should configure your browser to use the proxy server
  • How the cache operates for outgoing accesses

• How to setup and use the JCU Proxy Caching server
  • How to make your browser automatically configure for the available proxy servers
  • How to make your browser software use the JCU proxy server specifically
  • How to force your browser to bypass/update the cache

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Who Administers the JCU WWW server?

The main JCU WWW server is administered by the Webmaster contact us

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What is JCU's URL?

The URL for the main JCU web server is, http://www.jcu.edu.au/

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What is www.jcu.edu.au?

The name, www.jcu.edu.au is an alias which refers to the main World Wide Web server machines at James Cook University. The alias refers to an extensive array of computers comprising of two load balancing front end systems and a vast number of systems supplying the various internal web pages.

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What HTTP server do we run?

The server software running on www is Apache.

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The JCU Proxy Caching server

The SQUID Internet Object Cache server has been installed on proxy.jcu.edu.au on Port 8080. This cache has been linked to the Queensland Regional Network Organisation's (RNO) cache. There are two of these cache servers to allow for redundancy and continuous service should one fail at any time. We recommend you configure your browser to use the local jcu SQUID cache as described below.

The main campus HTTP server is still www.jcu.edu.au

Why you should configure your browser to use the proxy server

Speedier Web Page Retrieval

Many users of the World Wide Web on JCU's campus network access the same web pages. If all these users were to configure their browsers to use the proxy caching server, as explained below, the requested web page would be retrieved from the remote site only once. Subsequent requests for that document will retrieve the page from the proxy server's cache.

Cached documents are delivered to your browser over the local network very quickly. Try configuring the proxy server, and see the difference it makes on large web pages retrieved from overseas.

Less Network Traffic

Every "hit" on the proxy server's cache, represents a reduction in the network bandwidth which would have been used up, had the user's WWW browser not been configured to use the proxy server. By using the cache, you help to increase the available network bandwidth for all network users.

Less Cost

The University pays for all network traffic in one way or another. By using the cache, you can reduce the cost of your network usage to the University and potentially to yourself.

The University is charged by the megabyte for all incoming network traffic, that originates beyond the Queensland regional network gateway. Thus, if your request for a web page is satisfied from the local cache or from one of the parent RNO caches, the university pays no extra for this piece of network traffic.

NEW - Accessability

For the above reasons, the University has made a policy decision that all off-campus http (ie: web page) traffic must be fetched via the cache, unless a specific exemption has been granted.

How the cache operates for outgoing accesses

If a browser has been configured to use a cache/proxy server, requests for pages will be passed initially to the proxy server which will check for the requested page in its cache. If there, the request will be serviced from the cache avoiding a possibly lengthy wait for the page to come from off campus. If not there, the proxy server contacts its parent RNO cache which satifies the request if the URL has been cached there.

Each request not serviced from the local cache or parent RNO cache causes the proxy server to contact the remote site directly to load that page into the cache and to then satisfy your request.

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How to setup and use the JCU Proxy Caching server

Configuration examples are available for:

• PC (Firefox 2.0)
• PC (Internet Explorer 6)
• PC (Netscape 7.2)

• MAC (Firefox 2.0)
• MAC (Internet Explorer 5.2)
• MAC (Safari 2.0.2)

How to make your browser automatically configure for the available proxy servers

Automatic proxy configuration allows failover to other backup proxy servers should the default server be unavailable for any reason.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6

To autoconfigure the proxy server for Internet Explorer V6 browser,

run IE6, then:


click 'Tools',
click 'Internet Options...',
click 'Connections' tab,




click 'LAN Settings...',
'Automatically detect setup' (tick the box),
'Use automatic configuration script' (tick the box),


Enter the URL in the 'Address' box,

http://www.jcu.edu.au/cgi-bin/autoproxy



click 'OK',
click 'OK',


Restart Microsoft IE for the new settings to take effect.

Mozilla Firefox Version 2.0

To autoconfigure the proxy server for Mozilla Firefox Version 2.0 browser,

run Firefox V2.0, then:


click 'Tools',
click 'Options...',
click 'Advanced' button,
click 'Network' tab,




click 'Settings...',
'Automatic proxy configuration URL:'' (tick the box),


Enter the URL in the 'Address' box,

http://www.jcu.edu.au/cgi-bin/autoproxy



click 'Reload',
click 'OK',
click 'OK',


Netscape Version 7.2

To configure the proxy server for Netscape V7.2

run Netscape, then:< BR>
click 'Edit'
click 'Preferences'
click 'Advanced' arrow (to open submenu)
click 'Proxies'
'Automatic proxy configuration URL:'' (tick the box),


Enter the URL in the 'Address' box,

http://www.jcu.edu.au/cgi-bin/autoproxy



click 'Reload',
click 'OK',


Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2 for MAC OS X

To autoconfigure the proxy server for Internet Explorer V5.2 browser for MAC OS X,

run IE 5.2, then:


click 'Explorer',
click 'Preferences...',
click on the arrow next to 'Network' to open the sub options
click 'Proxies'




under 'USe Proxy Servers'',
'Web Proxy:'' (tick the box),
click 'Settings...' next to that




in the 'Address:' field enter 'proxy.jcu.edu.au'
in the 'Port:' field enter '8080'
set 'Method:' to 'Normal'
in the 'User Name:' field enter your 'jcu login id'
click 'OK',
click 'OK',


Restart Microsoft IE 5.2 for MAC OS X for the new settings to take effect.

Mozilla Firefox Version 2.0 for MAC OS X

To autoconfigure the proxy server for Mozilla Firefox Version 2.0 browser for MAC OS X,

run Firefox V2.0, then:


click 'Firefox',
click 'Preferences...',
click 'General' button,




click 'Connection Settings...' button,
'Automatic proxy configuration URL:'' (tick the box),


Enter the URL in the 'Address' box,

http://www.jcu.edu.au/cgi-bin/autoproxy



click 'Reload',
enter your username/password in the dropdown box provided,
click 'OK',


Safari Version 2.0i.2 for MAC OS X

To autoconfigure the proxy server for Safari Version 2.0.0 browser for MAC OS X,

run Safari V2.0.2, then:


click 'Safari',
click 'Preferences...',
click 'Advanced' button,




click 'Change Settings...' button next to the 'Proxies' label,
tick the box 'Web Proxy (HTTP)'
enter 'proxy.jcu.edu.au' into the field next to that check box
enter '8080' into the field labelled 'Port:' next to that
enter '*.jcu.edu.au' into the field labelled 'Bypass proxy settings for these Hosts & Domains:'
click 'Apply Now',
enter your username/password in the dropdown box provided,
click 'OK',
click 'X',
click 'X',


DeConfiguring Safari (for MacOS X)


Please Note: This is a manual proxy configuration.
- Open Safari
- Click on Safari at the top of the screen
- Click on Preferences
- In the menu bar at the top of the window, Click on Advanced
- Click on the Change Settings button next to the Proxies label
- Uncheck the check box button next to Web Proxy (HTTP)
- Click on Apply Now


How to make your browser software use the JCU proxy server specifically

Note that this method provides no failover capability should the proxy server, proxy.jcu.edu.au be unavailable for any reason. Automatic proxy configuration is the recommended method as it will provide the most reliable service.

How to force your browser to bypass/update the cache

In some circumstances you might wish to be sure you have retrieved the very latest version of a web page, such as when you wish to see the effect of editing you may have performed on a web page file.

To do this use the RELOAD/REFRESH option of your browser program, which will force the proxy server to contact the remote site and update the cache, before displaying the requested web page, thus ensuring you will be viewing the very latest version of the page.

Netscape Version 7.2



In Netscape, force a reload by selecting the RELOAD option located below the top menu bar.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6



In Internet Explorer, force a reload by selecting the REFRESH option located below the top menu bar.

Firefox Version 2.0

Firefox Version 2.0 for MAC OS X



In Firefox, force a reload by selecting the RELOAD option located below the top menu bar.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 5.2 for MAX OS X



In Internet Explorer, force a reload by selecting the REFRESH option located below the top menu bar.

Safari Version 2.0.2



In Internet Explorer, force a reload by selecting the REFRESH option located below the top menu bar.



Published 13-Feb-2007.
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