Generating a PAC File from a PAT File

Because most clients do not recognize the PAT file format, the clients in client to proxy routing use the Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) mechanism to receive information about which proxy to go through. However, instead of using the standard PAC file, the client uses a special PAC file derived from the PAT file. This special PAC file computes the hash algorithm to determine the appropriate route for the requested URL.

You can manually or automatically generate a PAC file from the PAT file. If you manually generate the PAC file from a specific member of the proxy array, that member will immediately re-generate the PAC file based on the information currently in the PAT file. If you configure a proxy array member to automatically generate a PAC file, the member will automatically re-generate the file after each time it detects a modified version of the PAT file.

If you are not using the proxy array feature for your proxy server, then you should use the Create / Edit Autoconfiguration File page to generate your PAC file. For more information see Chapter 17, Using the Client Autoconfiguration File.

Manually Generating a PAC File from a PAT File

The PAC file can be generated only from the master proxy.

To manually generate a PAC file from a PAT file

Steps

1. Access the Server Manager of the master proxy, and click the Caching tab.

2. Click the Configure Proxy Array link. The Configure Proxy Array page displays.

3. Click the Generate PAC button. The PAC Generation page displays.

4. If you want to use custom logic in your PAC file, in the Custom logic file field, enter the name of the file containing the customized logic you would like to include in the generation of your PAC file. This logic is inserted before the proxy array selection logic in the FindProxyForURL function. This function is typically used for local requests which need not go through the proxy array.

   If you have already entered the custom logic file on the Configure Proxy Array Member page, this field will be populated with that information. You may edit the custom logic filename if you wish, and the changes you make will transfer to the Configure Proxy Array Member page as well.

5. In the Default Route field, enter the route a client should take if the proxies in the array are not available.

   If you have already entered the default route on the Configure Proxy Array Member page, this field will be populated with that information. You may edit the default route if you wish, and the changes you make will transfer to the Configure Proxy Array Member page as well.

6. Click OK.

7. Click Restart Required. The Apply Changes page displays.

8. Click the Restart Proxy Server button to apply the changes.

Automatically Generating a PAC File from a PAT File

To automatically generate a PAC file from a PAT file each time a change is detected

Steps

1. Access the Server Manager, and click the Caching tab.

2. Click the Configure Proxy Array Member link.The Configure Proxy Array Member page displays.

3. Select the Auto-generate PAC File checkbox.

4. If you want to use custom logic in your PAC file, in the Custom Logic File field, enter the name of the file containing the customized logic you would like to include in the generation of your PAC file. This logic is inserted before the proxy array selection logic in the FindProxyFor URL function.

   If you have already entered and saved the custom logic file on the Configure Proxy Array page, this field will be populated with that information. You may edit the custom logic file name if you wish, and the changes you make will transfer to the Configure Proxy Array page as well.

5. In the Default Route field, enter the route a client should take if the proxies in the array are not available.

6. If you have already entered and saved the default route on the Configure Proxy Array page, this field will be populated with that information. You may edit the default route if you wish, and the changes you make will transfer to the Configure Proxy Array page as well.

7. Click OK.

8. Click Restart Required. The Apply Changes page displays.

9. Click the Restart Proxy Server button to apply the changes.