Customer Reviews

Web Proxy Servers (Web Infrastructure)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is written by the guy who practically invented the HTTP proxy server. It covers the HTTP proxying protocol and the history of its evolution very well and in very thorough detail. Unfortunately, while the book would be fantastic (5 stars) for any proxy administrator--overkill, perhaps--it isn't quite thorough enough for the developers. Right now I'm struggling with creating a proxy server in Java and the road block I've come across is with SSL support. While the requirements of the proxy server in an SSL handshake scenario is thoroughly listed in this book, there are no warnings or gotchas for the programmer to look out for in this area. In fact, there isn't any C/C++/Java source code in this book at all, only text, diagrams, and sample HTTP conversations.

The book is somewhat dated, but no worries, it covers HTTP 1.1 and below.

As a proxy specialist in the tech. support field, I find Ari's book to be the definitive reference for the "nuts and bolts" of proxy servers. It contains a detailed overview of the http protocol, as well as explanations of such proxy functions as garbage collection, caching, reverse proxying and proxy arrays. Also, it gives real life case studies of proxy situations as well as troubleshooting tips. The lead programmer of Netscape's proxy server has written a concise, detailed reference for any proxy admin, webmaster or support tech.

This is a good book for beginners, but if you are a professional looking for any kind of deployment or reference material, you're probably better off saving your money and reading whitepapers available from any proxy vendor (CacheFlow, Inktomi, Network Appliance) web site.

There are only two people on the planet who have gotten DNS to work and stay working: Rocket scientists and people that read "DNS & BIND".

Today, Proxy serveres are a lot like DNS was a couple years ago, not getting a lot of press, not very sexy, but very important to the effective function of many networks. And like DNS was a couple years ago, you can read the RFC's and the manual, but you really want one book that will make you look like a genius. For Proxy servers, this is the book for you.

Ari has done a fanstic job of covering all aspects or Proxy Servers. He provides clear descriptions of all the basics, but also touches on all the advanced "what if" topics where answers are hard to find.

(NOTE: I provide Proxy Server support for Netscape Communications, but the opinions expessed here are soley my own.)

I really dug this book. I read it from cover-to-cover and continue to refer to it. The chapter on the http protocol is good reading for anyone interested in the technical "behind the scenes" side of the Web. It covered every necessary facet of proxy servers. over.

If some day you'd need something to do with Proxy servers, this should definitely be your first book. There you aren't tought which button to push and what to type when setting up Proxy, but it answers a questions like why this is common, why other is wrong, by weighting all pro and contra. In short, this book puts an engineer on a right track for further studies of Proxy technology. I would encourage author for the next book probably named: "Proxy servers, how to make them..."

If you have no experience in Internet network technology then read this book for basic terminologies and overview; otherwise, you will be disappointed because this book lack of depth in all areas. For example, load-balancing chapter only consists of nine pages including tables, sidebar, and sample JavaScript. If this book were printed in regular textbook font then this chapter would be only 3 pages in length..

This is accurate, brief and clear book. Worth buyin