How to Use America Online 6.0 with Proxy Server 2.0 or BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5 (295316)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5
  • Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0
This article was previously published under Q295316

SUMMARY

This article describes the steps that are required to use America Online (AOL) version 6.0 on a client computer that is connected to and placed behind either Microsoft Proxy Server version 2.0 or Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server version 4.5. The solution outlined in the More Information section of this article that uses the Socks Proxy service for Internet access by means of the AOL-integrated Web browser is unavailable with the Winsock Proxy service. If the Winsock Proxy service is required in your environment, users can still sign on to America Online, but the AOL-integrated Web browser cannot function.

MORE INFORMATION

Section 1: Configuring the Proxy Server

Add a Socks Permission rule to enable traffic over port 5190. This step may be skipped if a Socks Permission rule for port 5190 or for all ports already exists:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, click Microsoft Proxy Server, and then click Microsoft Management Console.
  2. Right-click Socks Proxy, and then click Properties.
  3. Click the Permissions tab.
  4. Click Add.
  5. In the Action list, click Permit.
  6. In the Comment field, type: allow aol. (This field is optional.)
  7. In the Source field, click All.
  8. Click to select the Destination check box.
  9. Click to select the Port check box, and then click EQ in the list.
  10. In the Port number or service name field, type: 5190, and then click OK.
If you do not want to restrict Socks Proxy access to the Internet and you want to enable any protocol to connect to the Internet by means of the Socks Proxy, you can create a Socks Permission rule to enable all protocols. You can create a Socks Permission rule for all protocols to use for troubleshooting purposes. The following steps are not necessary if the Allow AOL rule had been created in the preceding procedure or if an Allow ALL Protocols rule already exists:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, click Microsoft Proxy Server, and then click Microsoft Management Console.
  2. Right-click Socks Proxy, and then click Properties.
  3. Click the Permissions tab.
  4. Click Add.
  5. In the Action list, click Permit.
  6. In the Comment field, type: allow all protocols. (This field is optional.)
  7. In the Source field, click ALL.
  8. Click to select the Destination check box.
  9. Click to select the Port check box, and then click GT in the list.
  10. In the Port number or service name field, type: 0, and then click OK.
After the Socks Permission rule is added, restart the Socks Proxy service in the Microsoft Proxy Management Console so that the new rule can take effect:
  1. Right-click Socks Proxy, and then click Stop.
  2. Right-click Socks Proxy, and then click Start.
Then, verify that the Web Proxy and Socks Proxy services have started.

Section 2: Configuring the Client Computer

For the client to use Socks Proxy to communicate correctly with America Online, the Winsock Proxy client must not be enabled on the client. Either disable or remove the Winsock Proxy client, and then restart the client.

To disable the Winsock Proxy client:
  1. Click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click WSP Client.
  2. Click to clear the Enable Winsock Proxy Client check box, and then click OK.
  3. Restart the client.
To remove the Winsock Proxy client:
  1. Click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  2. Click the Microsoft Proxy Client to remove it.
  3. In Microsoft Proxy Client Setup, click Remove All.
  4. When Setup completes, restart the client.
The following procedure is used to configure Internet Explorer on the client to use a proxy server:
  1. In Control Panel, double-click Internet Options.
  2. On the Connections tab, click LAN Settings.
  3. Click to select the Use a proxy server check box, and then click to select the Bypass proxy server for local addresses check box.
  4. In the Address: field, enter the proxy server name, and then type: 80 in the Port field.
  5. Click Advanced.
  6. Click the Use the same proxy server for all protocols check box, click OK, and then click OK.
  7. In the Dial-up settings list, click America Online adapter, and then click the Settings box. (No check boxes should be checked on this property page.)
  8. Click OK, and then click OK.
The following procedure is used to configure AOL 6.0 on the client to use a proxy server:
  1. Start your AOL connection to bring up the Sign On screen.
  2. On the Sign-On screen, click Setup in the lower left corner.
  3. On the AOL Setup screen, click Expert Setup in the lower left corner.
  4. On the Connection Setup screen, click the Locations tab, click the top entry labeled ISP/LAN Connection, and then click Edit.
  5. On the AOL Setup - ISP/LAN Connection screen, in the Numbers (Connections) for this Location: field, click ISP/LAN Connection (this name is the default name so the name that is displayed may be different), and then click Edit.
  6. On the AOL Setup - ISP/LAN Connection screen, click Manual Proxy Configuration, and then click View.
  7. On the Manual Configuration screen, click to select the Connect using proxy check box.
  8. Enter the proxy server name. This name is the same name used in the preceding step 3 where Internet Explorer had been configured to use a proxy server. The port should be 1080, unless the default Socks port has been changed on the proxy server.
  9. Click Socks 4 in the Protocol area.
  10. Click to select the Use proxy to resolve hostnames check box, and then click OK.
  11. Click OK on the AOL Setup - ISP/LAN Connection screen which has the Manual Proxy Configuration button and the View button on it.
  12. Click OK on the AOL Setup - ISP/LAN Connection screen which has the "Edit Location" title on it.
  13. On the Connection Setup screen, click Close.
  14. Click Sign On to sign on to America Online.

Section 3: Troubleshooting

  • When you attempt to sign on to America Online, the Connection Log screen in AOL 6.0 displays a "The connection to the proxy was refused" message:
    • Check the proxy server to ensure that the Web Proxy is started.
    • Check the proxy server to ensure that the Socks Proxy is started.
  • When you attempt to sign on to America Online, the Connection Log screen in AOL 6.0 displays a "The connection was lost" message:
    • Packet filtering may be enabled on the proxy server. Disable dynamic packet filtering on the proxy server or add a packet filter exception for port 5190.
    • If the proxy server uses a dial-up connection to the Internet, this message can occur if the modem is not turned on or if the telephone line is disconnected from the telephone outlet.
  • When you attempt to sign on to America Online, the Connection Log screen in AOL 6.0 displays "An error occurred while requesting a proxy" message:
    • Check the Permissions tab in the Socks Proxy properties on the proxy server for a Permission rule that can enable port 5190 or all ports. The rule may not be there or it may be set to deny instead of permit. See section 1 in this article to create this rule.
    • If the proxy server uses a dial-up connection to the Internet, this message can occur if the Autodial feature of proxy server is not configured properly.
  • When you attempt to sign on to America Online, the connection is unsuccessful and the following message is displayed: "AOL was unable to make a connection through your TCP/IP connection." The Connection Log screen in AOL 6.0 displays a "We were unable to connect to AOL. Your TCP/IP Connection may not be working properly" message:
    • Verify that the Internet service provider/local area network (ISP/LAN) connection settings in AOL 6.0 are configured to use a proxy server. Refer to section 2 of this article for more information.
  • When you attempt to sign on to America Online, the connection is unsuccessful and the following message is displayed: "America Online was unable to connect. Please try again":
    • Verify that the Winsock Proxy client is disabled or removed on the client. Refer to section 2 in this article for more information.
    • Stop and start the Socks Proxy service on the server.
    • Remove AOL 6.0 and restart the computer. Reinstall AOL 6.0.
  • When you use the AOL Web browser to browse the Internet, no Web pages are loaded. A message "The page cannot be displayed" is displayed at the top of the browser and a message "Cannot find server or DNS Error" is displayed at the bottom of the browser:
    • Verify that the Winsock Proxy client is disabled or removed on the client. Refer to section 2 in this article for more information.
    • Remove AOL 6.0 and restart the computer. Reinstall AOL 6.0.
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

181407 Troubleshooting Proxy Server RAS Autodial and Autodisconnect

173961 How to Disable the Proxy Socks Service by Modifying the Registry

221556 Using America Online 4.0 with Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/25/2006
Keywords:kb3rdparty kbenv kbinfo SBS45 KB295316 kbAudDeveloper
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