This is on-topic...somewhat...

As most of you know, I have to deal with a rather (ahem) silly filtering service while at the day-job, one that filters out sites that it considers objectionable. This includes the things you'd expect, as well as sites categorized as hacking or chat sites. This is a problem for me, because it means I can't get to some relevant materials, such as Ovid's CGI course (the server is classified as one devoted to hacking) or to deja (considered a chat site), which I use to search for questions posted on c.l.m.p and others.

The internal security forces (aka Stormtroopers) are running me through all sorts of hoops to "allow" me to access these sites and I'm getting fed up with the rigamarole. (Furthermore, they're not willing to provide me the information I need to configure PPM so it can automatically connect and install CPAN modules.)

I used to be able to bypass the company's proxy server using Lucent's proxymate, however, that's gone commercial.

Since I have administrator access to another server (BSD), I know I can set up a perl-based proxy that I should be able to use to bypass the company's. I don't plan to use this for patently objectionable material, but to access the technical information I need to do my job.

However, I'm not well versed in doing this sort of thing. Since many of you are administrators or more versed in these skills, does anyone:

(FTR, I know there are modules that will search deja, but that's really only part of the problem I'm trying to solve. Also, I'm not criticizing the company's rights to control access to content for their associates. However, their choices are based on the needs of customer service folks, not technical programmers and I'm tired of trying to convince people that sometimes, one size doesn't fit all.)

--f

Update: Still working on this, but I noticed that merlyn has another related article; between those and the link from lzcd; I should be able to cobble something together.

In reply to OT?: Proxy Skills by footpad

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