error message in IE using proxy server

October 25, 2005 8:52 PM

Apparent proxy server problem with Internet Explorer on Win XP. I get "Cannot find server or DNS Error" messages on an irregular basis when accessing sites which require use of the proxy server.

I don't have a problem initially getting onto the protected sites, but at random intervals the browser will give me the error message while I'm on them, and the only way to get back onto the sites is to restart IE. Is there a setting somewhere that I can change to fix this?

posted by shoos to computers & internet (9 comments total)

when accessing sites which require use of the proxy server
There are sites that REQUIRE the use of a proxy server?

What is your connection like, anyway? Direct connection? DSL? LAN? Hub?

Also, does this only happen in IE, or in other browsers too?
posted by slater at 10:05 PM on October 25, 2005

By "require" I just mean sites that allow access only to subscribers. I work at a university and I get to the content on the sites their library pays for through the university proxy server. I'm on DSL, via a router, and I've only noticed the problem with IE on Windows.
posted by shoos at 10:15 PM on October 25, 2005

Try this for managing the Proxy.
posted by krisjohn at 12:39 AM on October 26, 2005

This might be a hint in the right direction: When you use a proxy, the proxy handles your DNS lookups. So *if* the problem is DNS (the error message isn't really clear) then it's an inability to resolve the proxy name you have in your IE settings. If this is the problem, you could try specifying the proxy by IP address in IE.

This could also indicate a general problem in connectivity to the proxy.
posted by sohcahtoa at 6:11 AM on October 26, 2005

If you're having the problem with specific sites, you could always edit your "hosts" file and define the IP addresses for each problematic site. That way, no DNS lookups are required, and you won't get the timeouts.

This assumes that the sites in question use consistent domain names, IP addresses, and are much more static than the dynamic "D" in "DNS" would imply.
posted by thanotopsis at 10:44 AM on October 26, 2005

(which means "Domain" -- I'm not dumb, just making a joke. Didn't know if that was clear)
posted by thanotopsis at 10:45 AM on October 26, 2005

Thanks for the suggestions. When I've had a chance to test them out I'll post what I found.
posted by shoos at 6:18 PM on October 27, 2005

krisjohn, that little program looks handy, but unfortunately it won't toggle my settings since I have to use an automatic configuration script.
posted by shoos at 6:25 PM on October 27, 2005

Well, the editing my host file for the most problematic site didn't fix the problem.
posted by shoos at 7:31 AM on November 1, 2005