Hi,

I am hoping someone can help me out with a bit of explanation. I work in a typical enterprise domain environment, and it's often SAID that internet access is either "provided by a proxy server" or " you connect directly to the internet". ISA servers are also mentioned. I'm a bit confused about this.

From reading up on ISA servers, it appears they can basically act as 2 funtions, a Web proxy (forward/reverse) or a Firewall (back-end or front-end). Does "CONNECTING directly to the internet" still involve the ISA, just that it MEANS it's not being used as a proxy, just as a firewall (i.e. just forwarding the ip packets to the internet)? Also, we use a configuration script in Internet Explorer which I think points to an ISA proxy array. But if we don't have that script there, then internet is not provided. Why wouldn't my PC just bypass the web proxy servers and go directly to the internet if I remove the script? Would there be some sort of rule set up so that PC's HAVE to use a proxy to get internet access?

Thirdly, do ALL applications use proxy servers for internet access e.g. citrix ICA clients, MSN Messenger, FTP clients? So if you just put the proxy settings in IE, then all other apps will use these? Or will some connect directly to the internet itself.

I know probably each configuration is different, but if anyone can offer any general principles of explanation that would be appreciated!
Found a bit of an answer from the guys at work: a proxy server provides internet access, if you don't have a proxy CONFIGURED, you don't get internet access.

Not sure about all the other apps I mentioned thought, whether they all use the proxy or if a proxy is only for http traffic i.e. Internet Explorer etc, so other protocols/apps would go directly to the internet (FTP clients, citrix ISA client etc). I'm sure I'll find out sometime...