Configuring your browser to use the cache
If you are using a public access workstation or you have a PC with the standard XP image, then your browser(s) should be correctly configured to use the Web Cache.
If, however, you have installed the computer yourself, or you are using another operating system, then you will need to configure your browser yourself. This document gives a few example configurations. Other OS/browser combinations generally adopt very similar coventions for proxy configurations.
Automatic vs Manual Configuration
We recommend, wherever possible, that users set their browsers to use an automatic configuration script which will use an appropriate cache. This is slightly easier to do than a manual configuration and it will also mean that we can update your browser automatically if we need to make a change in the cache service.
The appropriate configuration script is on the Cardiff Information server. The URL is http://wpac.cf.ac.uk/CF.pac
If, for some reason you cannot use the script or you would rather configure your browser manually, instructions for doing this are also included below. This is necessary in certain circumstances - for example Internet Explorer under MacOS.
Automatic Configuration
Automatic Configuration of Internet Explorer 5 & 6 on Windows
- Start Internet Explorer
- Select: Tools, Internet Options then Connections
- Select 'LAN Settings'
- Check 'Use automatic configuration script'
- Fill in the Address http://wpac.cf.ac.uk/CF.pac
Manual Configuration
Manual Configuration of Internet Explorer 5 and 6 (Windows)
- Start Internet Explorer
- Select: Tools, Internet Options then Connections
- Select 'LAN Settings
- Uncheck 'Use an automatic configuration script'
- Check 'Use a proxy server'
- Select 'advanced'
- Fill in the HTTP entry as wwwcache.cf.ac.uk and port 8080
- Fill in the FTP entry as wwwcache.cf.ac.uk and port 8080
- Fill in the 'Do not use proxy ...' box with *.cf.ac.uk;*.cardiff.ac.uk