A proxy server is basically a network device that caches
Web pages. The first time it gets a request for a given
page, it retrieves it from the Web, delivers it to the
requester, and also saves a copy.
Thereafter, whenever the proxy server receives a request
for the same file, it sends the copy from cache rather
than retrieving a new copy over the Internet. This
decreases the amount of Internet bandwidth the provider
needs to buy.
Proxy servers also increase security, because you can
configure them to service outbound requests only. This
stops people on the Internet from penetrating your site.
If a proxy server gets a 404 Not Found status code, it may
cache that fact and return the same error to future
requesters, even if the actual site comes online again.
However, the amount of time that Web pages and status
codes get cached is usually just a few minutes. The proxy
server typically doesn't have the RAM or the disk to cache
hours and hours of activity.
To some extent, you can configure your pages so that proxy
server won't to cache them. For more info on this, browse:
Overriding the Browser's Cache Settings
http://www.interlacken.com/winnt/tips/tipshow.aspx?tip=20
However, I agree with Jon that to some extent, your
friend's advice seems somewhat misinformed. Or, perhaps
something got lost in the translation. The next time you
experience problems, it might be worthwhile to ask someone
else connected differently to check the site as well.
For example, if you connect through DSL provided by the
phone company, ask someone who gets cable modem from a
cable TV provider, or someone with a corporate connection
to the Internet, or even someone who connects by modem. If
they experience the same problem, your DSL provider's
proxy server isn't the cause.
Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
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|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
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-----Original Message-----
I made a barter deal with web space for a friend. I
transferred my business site over to his server (WeDJ Web
Hosting) a couple of weeks ago. I spend a lot of time
online, and my default browser homepage is my business
site index page. Several times a day when I log on or try
to access email (same deal), I get an error message that
says the page can't be found. Same way if I just type in
the URL, or click on it out of Google. So I emailed him in
a panic because I am advertising, which tends to bring
traffic to the site. So he left me a voicemail saying 1)
the problem is in my "cable modem browser" (I have DSL, so
I don't know if that applies); and 2)They don't refresh
their proxy server very often. That sounds like 2
different issues to me. Anyone know what all that means?
