The FreeProxy Control Centre

Purpose and features

The control centre enables you to define configuration parameters to control how FreeProxy/FreeWeb will work.  (Note, for details of the Architecture of FreeProxy click here.)

File menu

The file menu has the usual options:

File è New: Clear all data in the Control Centre

File è Open: Open an exiting FreeProxy configuration file (.cfg)

File è Save, Save As: Save the currently loaded data to a file. As soon as the file has been saved, the name in the window title changes to the name saved. If a change has been made to any data, an astersk (*) appears in the title.

File è Exit: Exit the control centre.

Define Menu

Each of these options also can be selected from one of the buttons on the Control Centre. By selecting one of the options or pressing the button, you will open a new page. See below for the explanation

Start/Stop Menu

See Start/Stop FreeProxy below.

NOTE: To define a new option, press a button. To edit an existing option, double-click on the line you want to change.

Define Ports button:

Defines which ports are being redirected. You specify the client ports and details of the connections. More Info.

Define RAS

Conditions and information relating to dialing the remote connection. More Info.

IP Service

Define the Web Server (FreeWeb) configuration. More Info

Define Calendars

Define calendars to control access to the internet. More Info.

Define Trace Data

View details of the messages between the clients and the internet. More Info.

Define URL filter

Prevent or specifically allow access to certain internet sites. More Info.

Start/Stop FreeProxy

Start or stop the NT/2000 service or start FreeProxy as a console program. More Info.

Approach

Initial Approach

You can load the default configuration (default.cfg) which contains only one connection. You can add to this and save under a new name. Default.cfg is placed in the installation directory which is usually C:\Program Files\Hand-Crafted Software\FreeProxy

Start the service using the Start/Stop button. Connect to the service using a browser on another computer and ensure that everything is working. 

Default.cfg is set up to connect directly to the internet. Also, your browser will need to be set up to address the server running FreeProxy at port 8080. Have a look at the Quick Startup here.

Once you have your network functioning and connections working, then implement other features.

Define a calendar

If you want to constrain the times when connections can be made or want to implement Auto Dialing and Auto Hang Up define a calendar to indicate when these feature will be invoked.

Defining RAS

RAS defines the parameters associated dialing, dial on demand, auto dialing etc. Note that before you can implement Auto dialing and auto hangup, you must define a calendar. A calendar can be attached to the RAS definition to indicate when to autodial/hang up or when to allow demand access.

Defining the WebServer

It would be usual to define a WebServer using port 80. However, if your web page code is able to direct requests back to FreeWeb on different ports, then you can run as many web servers as you wish however, each would have to be listening on a different port.

Modify the Port redirections

Against each port defined here, you can attach RAS definitions and calendars. Add other port redirections as required.

Add in URL filtering

Add in any URLs to which access should be blocked (Proxy Users only).