Hi, all.

Newbie here on this particular forum, but not new to Linux or the programs that go with it. I also have a healthy tenure of experience with operating systems and networking in general. But, I'm completely stuck on this.

I have a linux machine running Apache2 and Squid. Both work just fine, and I can easily pass browsing traffic through Squid with an iptables redirect (transparent mode). This machine is also my internal DNS server for "home.local".

Squid:
Runs on port 3127 for transparent proxy
Runs on port 3128 for standard proxy

DNS:
Record for wpad points to web server

Apache:
proxy.pac and wpad.dat files present, virtual server has ServerAlias for wpad
Logs show whichever file is being downloaded (code 200)
MIMETYPES FILE HAS
application/x-ns-proxy-autoconfig pac
application/x-ns-proxy-autoconfig dat

DHCP:
option local-pac-server code 252 = text;
option local-pac-server "http://10.10.10.10:80/proxy.pac";

PROXY.PAC / WPAD.DAT
function FindProxyForURL(url, host) {
var proxy = "PROXY 10.10.10.10:3127; DIRECT";
var direct = "DIRECT";
return proxy;
}



I have also attempted to use port 3128 for the proxy in the files, but the results are the same.

If I configure the browser to use port 3128 directly, it works fine. I am not able to get the browser to recognize the proxy via Auto Discovery or an Autoconfiguration URL.

Where am I going wrong?

Maybe get rid of the direct stuff and concentrate on out proxy working to start.

return "PROXY x.x.x.x:8080; PROXY y.y.y.y:8080;";


May consider :8080

I'd stick with either proxy.pac or wpdat but not both.

Why?

DNS is used to discover and use WPAD, DHCP gives out PROXY.PAC.


I've had a basic file that returned only PROXY, and it doesn't work. It appears that the file is found and downloaded by the browser but not used.

In linux I usually put in the proxy.pac file in browser network settings. Did you put it in or trying let it automatically install?

Linux has never fixed proxy.pac for global and never will. Trying to put it there will never work for most apps. It does seem to work for some browsers.

Right now you are just trying to get part of the deal to work correct? Then move on to full operation.

Can put proxy.pac file as a local file too if needed.


You've probably seen all this but here in case any extra.
http://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/ProxyAutoConfig

Predominantly, I want WPAD to auto-configure Mac, android, and i-Devices. These devices all leave the house network and return later on. And, I don't want to be futzing with the settings every time I pass one through the front door.

They should work as far as I've read.

Did you try any tests?

I detailed what I had done and how I observed the files being acquired - what sort of tests are you referring to, though?

I did take a proxy.pac that was working in IE, turned off the use of that file and set it to auto-discover. The same file was delivered to the browser, but the browser did not use the proxy.

I'm REALLY stumped on this.

OK, so a windows system is working correctly?

Define correctly. What I ultimately want is to be able to use auto discovery.

Focus testing on my Apple devices.

Mac
Set the proxy to automatically discover as a system level setting. Firefox sends all traffic through the proxy, even when attempting to exclude Amazon.com. Safari sends nothing through the proxy. Set Firefox to auto discover (system not discovering) and nothing is routed to the proxy.

iPad
Set network to auto discover, Safari routes nothing to the proxy.

I've verified that the proxy.pac file is being downloaded.

Can you just make the proxy.pac local and use wpdat to select it?

Huh?

Instead of using http some address for proxy.pac. Make it some local location. It should work. Example of windows might be (and I forget it now) something like c:\someplace\proxy.pac as I recall. That would be the location of your proxy file and what you'd point to in browser to test. Then if works try to get wpad file to assign.

Oh..

If I load the file as a proxy.pac in Firefox, it doesn't work. The exact same file queried from Mac OSX as proxy.pac via DHCP/DNS will cause Firefox to function properly, but Safari will not. And it seems that it isn't just Safari on the Mac - the iPad doesn't work properly either even though the OS does pick up the file.

There's no rhyme or reason to this that I can find.

I know nothing about apple stuff. Maybe someone else can offer solution.