Proper Connections with UserGate Proxy Server

UserGate Proxy Server works with NAT support on Windows 2000/XP/2003 and without NAT support on Windows 98/NT4. It provides: authorized Internet access to users, traffic monitoring/control, limits on access to specific resources including files, and traffic caching. UserGate Proxy Server includes a built-in firewall and Kaspersky Antivirus to provide the additional security of an internet gateway to a local area network. The program is available in two variants: Home and Corporate.

The new version of UserGate Proxy Server is its fourth, which evidences the program’s popularity and developer support. Designed for organizing the work of local or home network users on the Internet, UserGate Proxy Server provides the tools needed to: manage Internet access in a centralized way with the help of rules, control and calculate traffic, and to guard a local network from intrusions and malware programs. A simple home example of where UserGate Proxy Server comes in handy is where you get connected to the Internet from home and have to pay for a certain amount of traffic. There are several members of your family using the Internet, but your teenager always seems to hog more than his share. An easy solution is to create an account in UserGate Proxy Server for each family member and give a certain amount of traffic to each member. The teen’s hogging days are over! And, no complaints, arguments or quarrels.

The new version of UserGate Proxy Server comes with its own built-in firewall and an improved administration client. The firewall provides the additional security of an Internet gateway due to its capability of blocking traffic of either IP protocol (TCP and/or UDP) through specific ports.

By default the firewall contains one rule, which allows everything that is not blocked and blocks everything that is not allowed. Additional rules can be set in UserGate Proxy Server that block the downloading of audio and video files, the access to some sites, and set limits on the size of files that can be downloaded. These rules are created by an administrator according to current tasks.

As an additional security facility the Kaspersky Antivirus module checks all incoming traffic for viruses and Trojans.

The Administration module is how the settings of UserGate Proxy Server are managed. The new version comes with a new interface that provides a more convenient way to configure these settings. There is a context help that explains the rules and workflow of the settings with examples. The interface makes it very handy to choose an item to configure and read its straightforward tool tip, so you know how to set the exact rule you need. As a result most needs can be satisfied within an hour.

It is recommended that settings for UserGate Proxy Server be carried out in a definite order. First, groups and users are created, then the setting for DNS and computers on the intranet is performed, and finally rates and rules are created. Groups are created to make user management more convenient. Common rates and rules can be set for users. These can also be imported from an Active Directory. A user can be limited in all sorts of ways: you can limit their connection speed, set personal rates and/or rules. Each user can be a member of only one group.

UserGate Proxy Server has a built-in billing system that allows different rates for different time periods (for example, night and day rates), for access to different external resources (local provider network and Internet). To change the rate by time, you create rules that switch rates at certain times, including days of the week change. Rules can define conditions of Internet access. They are formed on the basis of three data sources: traffic, rate and connection. A rule can be set so that it is executed at a definite period of time. A rule can be set to execute under certain conditions, for example, if a user’s account is less than a certain amount, if a user has reach a set limit of time online or has downloaded more information than is specified. Rules can permit or deny access to certain sites. For example, you can make a list of banned URLs and the rule can be applied to deny various popup windows and/or to block advertisements.

With UserGate Proxy Server reports can be prepared with the use of various criteria: user, time, protocol, traffic, and account balance. It is very effective for organizations; at any time you can know whether the Internet is being used for work or play. Despite all the power, security and stability of UserGate Proxy Server, its requirements from a computer are minimal: a stand-alone computer, Pentium 200MHz, 32 MB RAM, 10 MB of hard drive and disc space for cache and log files.

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