What do i need to build a proxy server?

[Cheeseboy]

Hello all,
I want to build myself a proxy server. I have an old 266mhz computer sitting around, will this be enough processing power for a proxy server? Also what software do i need? I use linux is there just a operating system that just does proxy servers, Or can i set it up using a linux distro? Will i need only one in and one out for the computers nic's?


Thank you all for your help:thumbsup:

[eak]

You can setup apache 2 to do this.
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.0/mod/mod_proxy.html

[Spookster]

I would go with Linux especially for a machine that old and slow. Do a minimum install. For your proxy server you can use Squid. http://www.squid-cache.org/

[Cheeseboy]

Will having a proxy slow down my internet speed? I am thinking about using Slackware minimal install. It has 48mb of ram and a 4000rpm 5.25" hard drive.;)

[Spookster]

A proxy server can slow speed but in your case it probably won't. When proxy servers have many users or if you have to go through the Internet to connect speed can be affected. In your case your proxy server is going to be on your network and probably won't have many users. Just make sure you secure it.

[oracleguy]

If you are looking more for something that will work right out of the box, you can install the smoothwall (http://www.smoothwall.org/) linux distro which is designed to be a internet router and proxy server among a host of other features. Installation is a breeze and there are a lot of community modifications you can make if you so desire.

[Cheeseboy]

I will have about 20 users, What do you guys think about smoothwall ive heard about but im not sure about its security.

[oracleguy]

As long as you apply the patches and don't have it incorrectly configured it shouldn't be too much of a problem security-wise. It is a pretty stripped down version of linux with just the stuff you need for its purpose in it.