Defining the MySpace Proxy

Author — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:44:33 +0000

The MySpace Proxy is somewhat complicated to describe but let us begin by explaining what a proxy server is. A proxy server is defined as “a computer that offers a computer network service to allow clients to make indirect network connections to other network services.” A client connects to the given proxy server and puts in a request for a file or a connection from a separate server. The proxy makes the resource available to the client either by serving it from the cache or else by connecting it to another server. There are instances in which the proxy may modify the request of the client or may modify the response of the server for any number of purposes.

Over the web, the most common type of proxy application is known as the caching web proxy and this is what the MySpace proxy is. This application makes a particular cache of web pages and/or files available to network clients on web servers on a remote basis, which means that the information is transferred in a more reliable, efficient and speedier manner.

When the proxy receives a request for something, such as from a URL, the caching web proxy takes a look through its catalogue or local cache to find the URL it needs. Once it is recovered, the information is sent to the party that requested it in the first place. If the information cannot be found immediately then the proxy goes to the remote server and once it finds what it needs there, it returns the document to who requested it and a copy is saved for future reference in the cache.

The cache does have a system in place whereby documents are taken out and it usually does so in relation to the size of the documents, how long they have been in the cache and how often they have been accessed by requesters in the past. This is known as an “expiration algorithm.” The two most commonly used and most basic types of cache algorithms include Least Recently Used (LRU) and Least Frequently Used (LFU). The former gets rid of the documents that have been stored for the longest period of time, while the latter gets rid of the documents that are the least popular. In some cases, both types of algorithms are used together.

Besides the proxy used by MySpace there are other types of proxies that are used. For example web proxies are sometimes used to block web content that is objectionable or offensive while other web proxies are capable of reformatting web pages if it is required. Often network operators choose to use proxies as a way to catch computer viruses before they do damage and other to become aware of any hostile content that is coming from web pages on a remote server.

It is common practice for organizations such as school and corporations to use an intercepting proxy server that makes security high on the priority list. As well an intercepting proxy helps to enforce that the proper policies of the network are being used for the purposes they were supposed to be used for. Sometimes an intercepting proxy is incorrectly referred to as a forced proxy or a transparent proxy and with an intercepting proxy, it must be linked up with a NAT connection to order to work. Connections that come about as a result of the client browser working through NAT are caught in midstream and are then redirected to the proxy and there is no need for knowledge or “client-side configuration.” It is very common for intercepting proxies to be used in businesses because they do not require client browser configuration and therefore can be a way to deflect administrative responsibilities as well as to enforce “acceptable use policies.”

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Defining the MySpace Proxy