[WEB4LIB] AOL 6 and proxy access problems?

[Mark Pecaut]

AOL, like @Home and others, proxy their user's http connections
(web browsing).  I don't know the details of how AOL does this, 
but it doesn't prevent users from using either a URL-rewriting
proxy server (such as ezproxy) or an application-level proxy
(such as squid, the kind you need to configure your browser to
use).

AOL's browser can't be configured to use an application-level 
proxy server.  The solution is to connect to AOL with the AOL
program, then open a browser such as IE or Netscape, which
can be configured to use an application-level proxy.

AOL does also have firewalls (firewalls are not the same as proxy
servers), but this shouldn't interfere with most proxy servers.
This is done at the network level, so it applies to all AOL 
users.

I really doubt they are doing anything special with the 
new AOL 6.0 program - it would be much easier and effective to 
filter traffic with their routers rather doing it through the 
program.  If users have problems, tell them to open a separate 
web browser (like Netscape or IE) after they connect.

Hope this helps,

-Mark

On Tue, Mar 13, 2001 at 11:01:04AM -0800, Stacy Magedanz wrote:
> Can anyone comment on whether AOL 6 prevents users from going through a
> proxy server to access library databases? I heard a rumor that the AOL 6
> connection involves a firewall. I have tried the AOL web site and a
> couple of listservs trying to confirm this, with no success.
> 
> --
> Stacy Magedanz
> Reference Librarian, Pfau Library
> California State University San Bernardino
> San Bernardino, CA 92407
> 909 880 5103
> magedanz at csusb.edu
>