Simple view on how proxies work (inc DNS)

[erol]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

This is also a reciprocal thing. NTL host sites. If all the proxies on the internet were switched off, then the bandwidth hitting NTLs web servers (their own ntlworld and all their customers) would increase and require more hardware and bandwidth. Bandwidth will become a more used resource, more scarse and more expensive.

Bandwidth will only become more expensive as it is more used if the rate at which bandwidth cost is falling is slower than the rate at usage indreases, and it is not. Yes it is reciprocal but then so is the cost of running proxies (need software, needs hardware, needs people to configue and manage them). I still do not believe that the amount of money saved on external bandwidth (at either end) is greater than the cost of running the proxies in the first place (at either end). This is only going to become truer and truer over time as bandwidth costs continue to drop - yet costs in staff to maintain the proxies rise.

[Chrysalis]

If the proxies were turned of it wouldnt make any extra external traffic to the ntl hosted websites, all that traffic would be internal if their network is setup properly, for instance I leeched a file of a website onto a box on the same isp as the website and it zommed across at 1000mbit on the internal network.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

If the proxies were turned of it wouldnt make any extra external traffic to the ntl hosted websites, all that traffic would be internal if their network is setup properly, for instance I leeched a file of a website onto a box on the same isp as the website and it zommed across at 1000mbit on the internal network.

Yes traffic over the NTL subnet of the internet will all whizz around missing thier proxys as internal traffic.

If NTL switch their proxies off then every request to sites hosted on Thus, Tiscali, Telewest and all other external subnets will go to those subnets and none of the traffic will be caught by proxies. A resultant increase in traffic for the other sites.

If all ISPs switched off their proxies, then all traffic from say Blueyonder or Demon to NTL hosted sites would be directed to the server not a proxy, resulting in an increase in traffic on NTLs subnet.

[erol]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

If all ISPs switched off their proxies, then all traffic from say Blueyonder or Demon to NTL hosted sites would be directed to the server not a proxy, resulting in an increase in traffic on NTLs subnet.

Well many many ISP (I would even venture most) already do not use _forced_ proxies anyway. BT Openworld used to a long time back - and abondond the idea for example.

If any that did 'turned off' their proxies overnight then yes their external traffic would increase - but if this increase in external traffic cost _less_ than running the proxies in the first place then they would _all_ be better off. That's the (same) point made nefore in relation to NTL. Introducing 'both ends' makes no difference to the basic common sense of the point.

[Rik]

Bravo
Lets have some more threads like this, makes a nice change from moaning posts!
Very informative thanks very much

Originally Posted by Rik

Bravo
Lets have some more threads like this, makes a nice change from moaning posts!
Very informative thanks very much

Thank you - it's nice to be appreciated.

[Lee]

So how would I go about reporting a problem with a particular 'transparent' proxy?

The one (or more?) in Kirklees is messing up web pages, causing lots of script errors and most importantly stopping eBay from working!! (Have verified thatusing a different proxy solves these issues)

Contact ntl Technical Support would be the best way.