Configure Squid

Add and modify parameters using a text editor like Notepad++ to configure Squid for your environment. You will need to stop and start Squid to activate the changes.

You cannot use a configuration file from an earlier Squid version as it is not compatible with 3.5.x.

Stop the proxy server using the Squid system tray icon right-click menu.

  1. Open the Squid Folder using the Squid system tray icon right-click menu.

  2. Open \etc\squid\squid.conf in Notepad ++ or similar text editor.

  1. Add the lines below to the top of the file. They are parameters for setting up basic authentication in Squid.

    # Squid for windows with or without Authentication

    auth_param basic program C:\Squid\lib\squid\basic_ncsa_auth.exe C:\Squid\etc\squid\.htpasswd

    auth_param basic children 5

    auth_param basic realm Squid proxy-caching web server

    auth_param basic credentialsttl 2 hours

    auth_param basic casesensitive on

    acl basic_port myport 3128 acl basic proxy_auth REQUIRED acl none_port myport 8080

    http_access allow none_port http_access allow basic basic_port http_access deny all

  2. Make sure the file paths in the auth_param basic program line match your install directory. They point to the authentication helper program and the .htpasswd file you will create later.

  3. Under # Squid normally listens to port 3128, add http_port 8080 directly below http_port 3128. 8080 is a listener port commonly used by proxy servers.

  4. Uncomment (remove the #) from the line #cache_dir aufs/cygdrive/d/squid/cache 3000 16 256 and change the path to point to the cache folder (c:/squid/var/cache). This enables disk caching, reducing the network load for low-bandwidth remote locations.

    You must create a Squid caching structure in the cache folder for this to work. We will do that in Step 4: Create the Squid caching folder structure.

  5. At the very bottom of the file, add and set the maximum_object_size parameter. Without it, Squid, by default, will only cache files up to 4 MB in size.

  6. Save the file.

Note that

  • Your changes do not take effect until you restart the proxy server.

  • Squid offers more configurable options than are visible in the squid.conf file provided by Diladele B.V. See the Squid configurationfile documentation for more information.

  • Option descriptions can also be found in c:\Squid\etc\squid\squid.conf.documented (open in Notepad ++ or similar text editor).

  1. Make sure the cache folder c:\squid\var\cache exists.

  2. Run the Squid Terminal shortcut on your desktop as an administrator.

  3. Execute the command: squid.exe -z

Result: A folder structure is created for storing cached data in: c:\squid\var\cache

  1. Encrypt your user name and password in the htpasswd format. Use a generator of your choice.

  2. Paste the encrypted string into a text editor and create an .htpasswd file. Use the Save as type All types (*.*) when doing this in Notepad++.

  3. Copy the .htpasswd file to c:\Squid\etc\squid.

  1. Update your HOSTS file in c:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ as required. For example, with the proper Hostname and IP Address pair for the Global Subscription Service (GSS).

  2. Copy it to c:\Squid\etc\squid.

If you do not want to use the HOSTS file method, you can change the default DNS name servers in the squid.conf file:

  1. Comment out (add a # before) dns_nameservers 8.8.8.8 208.67.222.222.

  2. Add the line dns_nameservers [DNS name server IP address]. If you have more than one, just separate them with a space.

  3. Save the squid.conf file.

  4. Restart the Squid service.

  1. Start the proxy server using the Squid system tray icon right-click menu.