Web Proxy clients
A Web Proxy client is a client computer that has a Web browser application, which complies with HTTP 1.1 (or lower), can be configured to use a proxy, and is configured to use ISA Server. Each Web Proxy client is configured through its own user interface. Web browsers are Web Proxy clients.
The Firewall Client software can configure the Web browser settings on the Firewall client computer. These settincs can be configured automatically or disabled altogether. You can use ISA Server Management to configure the following Web browser properties:
- ISA Server computer and port to which the client will connect.
- Automatic discovery settings.
- Computers that the Firewall client's Web browser will access directly.
- Backup route, if the ISA Server computer is unavailable.
When the Firewall Client software is installed, and with every user logon, the Web browser on the client computer is configured with those settings. This automatic configuration can be disabled.
If Firewall Client software is not installed, the Web browser can be configured manually.
Configuring Web Proxy clients
You do not have to install any software to configure Web Proxy clients. However, you must configure the Web applications on the client computers to use the ISA Server computer as the proxy server.
The default configuration URL is:
http://ISA_Server/array.dll?Get.Routing.Script
where ISA_Server is the name or IP address of the ISA Server computer. This is the URL where the configuration script is located. ISA Server automatically generates this configuration script, based on the direct access and backup route options.
You can set an option by which ISA Server automatically downloads a client configuration script, located on the ISA Server computer, every time a Web browser is opened. The output of this script provides an ordered series of ISA Server computers, which the browser uses to retrieve the object that is specified by the URL.
The script is accessible from a specific URL on the ISA Server computer (although it is not actually stored there). You can easily update all Web browser settings, without having to reconfigure each individual Web browser. Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 3.02 and later, and Netscape 2.0 and later, support this feature.
Automatic Web browser configuration for Firewall clients
You can configure ISA Server so that the Firewall client's Web browser is configured during setup. This way, the client's Web browser will use the specified automatic configuration script. The script is based on the options set in Web Browser Configuration. For instructions, see Configure Firewall Client's Web browser settings.
Configuring the browser on the ISA Server computer
If you use a Web browser on the ISA Server computer, you must configure the browser to use the IP address of the server network adapter that is connected to the Internal network. Do not use the server computer name or DNS name.
If you configure the server browser to use the computer or DNS name, the name is resolved to the IP address of the external network interface connected to the Internet. Consequently, you must configure the browser on the server to connect through ISA Server.
