Sams Teach Yourself Network Troubleshooting in 24 Hours, Second Edition

Proxy Servers

Let’s dig a little deeper into the theory behind a proxy server. Think of the proxy server as a receptionist for a spy organization that has two sets of phones: the internal organization telephone (the “red phone”) and the outside world’s phone system. The outside phone system is not directly usable by any of the other agents in the spy agency; they must give a message to the receptionist, who then orders pizza, arranges for third-party hit men, and so on. The spy organization has it this way so that its circuits are not directly connected to the public telephone network—and a good thing, too! It doesn’t mean that the receptionist is incorruptible, but at least he’s within the organization, fairly trustworthy, very accountable ...