I am using a linux box as a local cache using squid, and want to be able to direct requests through the cache to a parent proxy that requires authentication.

I have added the lines below to my squid conf file:

cache peer <IP address of parent proxy server> parent 3128 0 no-query default

acl all src 0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0

never_direct allow all

With these lines added, the requests do appear to be directed to the parent proxy and the authentication window for the parent pops up. When the username and password are entered and OK is clicked, the authentication window pops up again. The user never gets past the authentication request.

If I remove the 3 lines above, the local caching server works OK, without forwarding to the authenticating parent. Also, if I direct client requests directly to the authenticating parent, without using the local cache, user's authentication details are accepted.

Why won't the authentication details be accepted when requests go through the local caching proxy?

i take it you left-out the underscore between cache and peer here in your post but not in the squid.conf, right??

[ this post is just a courtesy bump in case you haven't worked-out your issue yet... ]

Yes - I have cache_peer in squid conf, thanks.
- and no - I haven't resolved the poblem yet....

do your squid logs show anything when the user isn't able to get past that window??