[WEB4LIB] Re: AOL 6 and proxy access problems?

[Araby Greene]

We have found that AOL 5+ is incompatible with IE5+ for use with our library
proxy server. AOL users have an easier time if they use Netscape 4+, but not
Netscape 6 (yet).

-araby greene
________________________
Araby Greene
araby at unr.edu
Web Development Librarian
Getchell Library/322
Univ. of Nevada, Reno
http://www.library.unr.edu/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Pecaut" <pecautm at missouri.edu>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 11:40 AM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: AOL 6 and proxy access problems?


> 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
> >