Re: [squid-users] Squid3 issues

From: Nyamul Hassan <mnhassan_at_usa.net>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:05:39 +0600

So, do you want to use proxy in an ISP like setup? Or in a Web
Hosting like setup?

Regards
HASSAN

On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 2:25 AM, Gmail <adbasque_at_googlemail.com> wrote:
> Ok I'll try and clarify it (thanks btw)
> I am running 3 websites on one single machine and have been for few years,
> then the load started to grow, then I decided to have a go at a proxy
> server:
> I was actually putting off for a couple of years, simply because I am very
> restricted time wise
> I have as I said 3 different websites running on one single machine in a
> vhost mode
>
> three websites with three different domain names.
>
> Let's say 1) example.com, example.net, example.org all pointing eventually
> to the same IP address
> as I said it worked perfectly but it started to slow down a bit as the load
> gets too much for one machine to handle.
> On top of that I run other servers on different machines, such as Chat
> servers (IRC, Flash, DigiChat) , and various other applications.
>
> Now, I am using this machine as a proxy server (reverse proxy server) and a
> router at the same time using iptables, and I use another machine as a
> DNS/DHCP servers, all configured and working fine indeed no problems at all.
>
> Now, I really struggled to get the clients on my network to have access to
> the internet, I mean just to browse the net, I did in the end, but every
> single example I followed not a single one worked for me, I don't know how
> many forums and articles I read.
> I have applied so many examples no luck.
>
> So basically no requests were passed to the backend server, all I wanted is
> to get those requests forwarded to the web-server and if that works then I
> will add three more machines as backend servers and each machine will hold
> one website with it's DB and so on..
>
> That was my plan anyway, And I found myself in ever decreasing circle going
> around in circle, following some people's examples and nothing worked, I
> tried to find information for example about, how to setup a cache parent,
> sibbling and so on, not a single word about, I even read O'reilly's
> articles.
>
>
> In those examples for instance they mention a parent in order to forward a
> request, without telling you how to set a parent, and if you don't have a
> parent, does that mean you can't use a proxy server, and If I had a parent
> where would it be? and how to decide which one is the parent and which one
> is the child etc.. NO indication not a single word, "they expect" you to
> know all that as if you spent all you life working on their project, it
> never occured to them that maybe some people won't know what is a parent or
> how to set it up and so on..
>
>
> I can go on like this for a whole night, I know you're trying to help but to
> be perfectly honest I am put off by this whole thing, I don't think I want
> to use Squid at all, I reached a saturation point now.
>
> You see I know even if I get the thing off the ground now, I am sure in a
> few weeks time it will whinge at me or even in a few days time.
>
> Maybe one day if I have the time I can look into it in more details and take
> the time to understand first it's concept and the way it works, it seems to
> have it's own logic.
>
> If not I will just have to either purchase a software that does a similar
> thing or use Apache as a proxy server and see how it goes.
>
> I just want to thank you for your time and your effort in trying to help
>
> Best regards
> Adam
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nyamul Hassan" <mnhassan_at_usa.net>
> To: "Squid Users" <squid-users_at_squid-cache.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 7:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [squid-users] Squid3 issues
>
>
> Please outline your scenario in detail.  If you are facing problems
> about FDs, then I take it that you already have a running instance,
> but that your load is quite high to require more than the default 1024
> FDs.
>
> Did you get your OS limits changed to more than 1024?  I modify my
> servers to 65536 whenever I'm running Squid on them.
>
> Please outline your problem in more details, so that we can help you.
>
> Regards
> HASSAN
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 1:37 AM, Gmail <adbasque_at_googlemail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello again,
>> I am not ranting, I was merely expressing my opinion, well I never said I
>> was an expert when it comes to the proxies I have never used them, this is
>> my first attempt, yes Debian and Debian based distros are very very popular
>> I have used many distros and by far I must admit that the debian is a
>> fantastic OS, now it comes to tastes, some like FreeBSD, some like OpenSuse,
>> some like Centos5, and so on I have seen many people using Fedora, but I
>> wasn't impressed by it when I used it 2 years ago. anyway as I said it's a
>> matter of taste.
>>
>> You say I couldn't get it running yes, when I follow the instruction to
>> the letter and I mean to the letter, I have changed several times the
>> config, to just forward requests to the backend server "As a test" first the
>> back end server is running on virtualhosts, that was the reason, why I
>> decided to tackle Squid or a (proxy sever if you like).
>>
>> I took people's word for it, and I tried it, all I could get it to do is
>> allow some http clients to acces the internet, when I try and visit any of
>> the websites all I get is the "front page on the proxy itself" No matter
>> what I did either I get acces denied etc.. or I get invalid url, all of the
>> standard error message, and finally I got to get the default page of the
>> apache on the proxy itself, but not one request was forwarded to the backend
>> webserver.
>>
>> I am not mentionning other apps that don't work with Squid, just a few,
>> such as MSN, Steam, Utorrent and so on..and then I got the Warnings that my
>> cache is running out of file descriptors, no other programme ever did this
>> to my servers.
>>
>> I found squid extremely picky, extremely demanding, what I am saying is,
>> 1024 descriptors should be more than enough for it to run and considering
>> the fact that nothing else is running on that machine, it was a dedicated
>> machine just for squid3.0
>> I got to the point where I couldn't even open the syslog because the
>> buffer limit was exceeded, and that was a couple days of me just trying
>> testing it, I managed to get the Utorrent working in the end, I had to use
>> pidgin instead of MSN for the clients because It was impossible to get MSN
>> or Yahoo to connect I haven't tried Skype though, but some people don't like
>> Pidgin, they prefer either MSN or Yahoo anyway that wasn't a big deal.
>> All I am saying is I found that Squid is very very demanding indeed, and
>> if I can't use it the way I like, what's the point?
>> Anyway, I have decided not to use it and leave it for people who are happy
>> with it and wish them good luck with it.
>> I haven't ignored anybody, I have always replied and to tell you the
>> truth, I have asked questions before and I was ignored, and that's fine all
>> I was asking if they had a decent documentation with clear examples.
>> The examples I read all made no sense to me, there are better ways of
>> giving good examples.
>> For example, they ask you to use a parent, a sibling etc. what if you
>> don't have any of these??
>>
>> Anyway I don't know why you took it so personally, All I am saying here in
>> simple terms, when you write a program don't expect every person to know
>> what you're on about, make your example as simple as possible that anybody
>> can understand, people don't need to be experts in order to use that's all,
>> and if that offended and you can't take a bit of criticism than I can't help
>> you.
>>
>> When I write a program and I get criticised I will listen and ask how
>> would they like to be and I will explain why I did it the way I did it.
>> Simple :-)
>>
>> Take care mate, we're going nowhere with this, thanks anyway for your
>> replies
>> Regards
>> Adam
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nyamul Hassan" <mnhassan_at_usa.net>
>> To: <squid-users_at_squid-cache.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 6:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: [squid-users] Squid3 issues
>>
>>
>>> Your rant can be summarized as follows:
>>>
>>> 1. You are using a OS (and version) which (according to you) has poor
>>> documentation or other info. Ubuntu / Debian are very popular Linux
>>> flavours. As someone who claims to have been a Linux administrator for
>>> "several years", haven't you ever come across the FD issue in any situation?
>>> Strange!
>>>
>>> 2. You are a single man catering to "many" servers, so you don't want to
>>> "waste time" with a software that you could not get running on an OS as in
>>> #1. The "we" in my email was meant to be my company. I personally see over
>>> all the installations we have. No one else as a helping hand.
>>>
>>> 3. You find a lot of people complaining that they can't run squid. But,
>>> you ignore a lot of other people (like myself and Jan who responded to your
>>> post) who are saying this is a brilliant piece of software.
>>>
>>> Instead of ranting, I would suggest you change your attitude, and start
>>> laying down the problems that you are facing. Someone from the community
>>> will always get back to you, as they have for me in the past.
>>>
>>> I have no intention of starting a flame war here. I just want you to calm
>>> down, and assure you, Squid in itself is a brilliant piece of code.
>>> Remember, this is the same software that serves Wikipedia, and that speaks a
>>> lot about how stable this software is.
>>>
>>> Also, Squid 3.0 is still under active development, and is not suitable
>>> for all scenarios. We use 2.7 because we use it as a forward proxy, and many
>>> features available in the 2.x branch have not yet been fully migrated to the
>>> 3.x branch. So, 2.7 suits our scenario more. Perhaps you can also mention
>>> what your scenario is.
>>>
>>> As for OS, I've seen some people say FreeBSD is one of the best OS for
>>> Squid. But, we ourselves are pretty happy with CentOS 5.x. So, find out what
>>> works for you. Ubuntu / Debian are also very popular Linux flavours, so I
>>> think you need to search some more about how to increase FDs.
>>>
>>> I hope you find solutions to your woes, and come to use Squid to your
>>> favour.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> HASSAN
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gmail" <adbasque_at_googlemail.com>
>>> To: "Nyamul Hassan" <mnhassan_at_usa.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 00:01
>>> Subject: Re: [squid-users] Squid3 issues
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>> I did say that some people would disagree, I know that there are people
>>>> who might find it brilliant
>>>> I am not moaning, I was stating facts, you're talking about the version
>>>> 2.7 or whatever you're using
>>>> I am talking about version 3.0++.
>>>>
>>>> All of the examples don't make any sense I have followed them to the
>>>> letter and yet I still got lot of issues, as for the emails I did reply to
>>>> both of them and twice
>>>> and I even sent another email asking another question, if it works for
>>>> you then good for you, I am glad that some people like it.
>>>> but for me it didn't work, no matter what I tried, I am using Ubuntu,
>>>> that's another thing you will find certain things in details for most OSes
>>>> but not for Ubuntu or even a debian and if you do find anything it's always
>>>> with the older versions., which you know most things in the v2.0++ are not
>>>> recognised in version 3.0
>>>>
>>>> I have been a webmaster for many years and I have used many linux
>>>> distros, I have compiled, installed and ran countless programmes.
>>>> I also code in Java, and many other scripting languages, I am not
>>>> exactly a novice.
>>>>
>>>> If you think the programme is so brilliant, then don't take my word for
>>>> it, just check out the forums, mailing lists etc.. you will see how many
>>>> people are having difficulties with squid, since it started.
>>>> It hasn't got any better I had a go few years back I had the same
>>>> problems back then.
>>>> If you do like it good for you, and to tell me if I don't like it I
>>>> shouldn't use it, yes if we had another option yes, but we don't, and it's
>>>> not as good as people claim to be, the truth is, people don't have a choice
>>>> or an alternative.
>>>>
>>>> If you're happy spending hours everyday solving one problem after
>>>> another, be my guest but I hardly have the time to mock around with useless
>>>> software, People should be able to use and run without having to become
>>>> experts.
>>>> The same things applies to the Linux community, that's why most pople
>>>> can't be bothered to have linux in their homes, even though deep down they
>>>> know that Microsoft isn't reliable.
>>>>
>>>> And you're talking in "we" meaning you have more than one person to run
>>>> whatever you're running, as for me I am running everything all by myself,
>>>> from the webservers, to the clients, to the DBs, to the chat servers, to the
>>>> commercial websites, all by myself.
>>>> So I don't have the time to waste with one program that is supposed to
>>>> be compiled, installed and ran without any difficulties, not even a read me
>>>> on how to install it., unless you run .configure --help in order to find the
>>>> list of options, and most of them are not recognised and so on and so forth.
>>>>
>>>> on one hand solving problems caused by Squid and then solve problems on
>>>> the system itself in order for it to recognise it,
>>>> not to mention the huge amount of errors you'll get when you try and
>>>> configure it and then compile it etc...
>>>>
>>>> You're right if I don't like it I don't use, that is exactly the
>>>> attitude I am talking about, instead of trying to improve the software so
>>>> people can use it, you give them the choice take it or leave it, is that it?
>>>> Listen my friend I am not here to pick an argument with people, all I am
>>>> saying is people should come out of this mindset of "I am a volunteer"
>>>> therefore I don't have to do anything, when you do something do it properly
>>>> or don't bother.
>>>> Don't expect anyone who walks in will understand your software or your
>>>> program, I make programs with perl and java I make sure that anybody can run
>>>> it, install it and compile it with instructions step by step on how to use
>>>> it.
>>>>
>>>> Have a nice day and good luck to you and everybody else
>>>> Cheers! :)
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nyamul Hassan" <mnhassan_at_usa.net>
>>>> To: <squid-users_at_squid-cache.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 2:12 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [squid-users] Squid3 issues
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Your email is one long whining without much substance at all. I have
>>>>> been a
>>>>> member of this list for over 3 years now, and been using Squid for a
>>>>> year
>>>>> and a half. During all this time, I have always found this list to be
>>>>> hospitable, and helpful.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you don't like the software, then don't use it. It's not costing you
>>>>> anything. That being said, I have almost never found any attitude from
>>>>> any
>>>>> person on the list that says RTFM. Even when someone asks about obvious
>>>>> things, someone is kind enough to point to the right direction.
>>>>>
>>>>> We use over 4 Squid proxies (running 2.7STABLE7), running commodity
>>>>> hardware, and their performance has been more than satisfactory to us.
>>>>> However, we run all of them over CentOS 5+. Last year, even commercial
>>>>> vendor Bluecoat could not give us a strong enough reason to show that their
>>>>> product performed any better than Squid to justify the cost differential.
>>>>>
>>>>> If it is file descriptors that is creating problems, then you need to
>>>>> read the OS docs on how to increase that on the OS side. On CentOS, running
>>>>> "ulimit -n" shows how many FDs are allowed by the OS.
>>>>>
>>>>> As for Squid, a simple recompile with the "--with-maxfd=XXXX" flag
>>>>> worked
>>>>> like a charm for me. Using "squid -v" is always handy to get the
>>>>> existing compile-time flags first.
>>>>>
>>>>> Whatever your frustration at this point, whining over at the forum, and
>>>>> blaming everyone else and saying "admit that squid does not work", is
>>>>> pretty lame.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh, by the way, I searched my email archives of the Squid Mailing List,
>>>>> with your "email id", and it turned out there is only one email from you,
>>>>> and that was only 15 hours ago, within which there have been 4 email
>>>>> responses already. You did not even reply to one of them saying what did not
>>>>> go as suggested.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>> HASSAN
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gmail" <adbasque_at_googlemail.com>
>>>>> To: <squid-users_at_squid-cache.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 19:30
>>>>> Subject: [squid-users] Squid3 issues
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello everyone,
>>>>>> I have been trying for nearly 5 weeks now to get this piece of
>>>>>> software to
>>>>>> work, I have tried several versions, I have tried it on several
>>>>>> platforms,
>>>>>> all I got from it is frustration, I know that some people would say
>>>>>> what a
>>>>>> fantastic piece of software.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have used many softwares, packages, compiled stuff for years, never
>>>>>> ever
>>>>>> had an experience such as this one, it's a package full of headaches,
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> problem after problem, And to be honest the feedback I get is always
>>>>>> blaming other things, why can't you people just admit that Squid
>>>>>> doesn't
>>>>>> work at all, and you are not providing any help whatsoever, as if you
>>>>>> expect everyone to be an expert.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I also don't like the attitude of some people, talking to you as if
>>>>>> you're
>>>>>> an "idiot", while in fact you follow their suggestions to the letter
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> yet it doesn't work, instead of blaming the operating systems and
>>>>>> blaming
>>>>>> people for not knowing how to use it, why can't you try and do
>>>>>> something
>>>>>> that works for a change, I have wasted nearly 5 weeks day in day out
>>>>>> sometimes I stayed til 3 or 4 am trying desperately to get this thing
>>>>>> working.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For instance if I compile with no options I know that somewhere down
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> line I am going to find out that I needed this or that, if I compile
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> with some options I get errors that don't make any sense, examples.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I uninstalled the version that was packaged with Ubuntu hardy, I am
>>>>>> trying
>>>>>> to compile it so I won't have the same problem, with the file
>>>>>> descriptors,
>>>>>> I followed exactly the suggestions in the configure --help menu, yet I
>>>>>> am
>>>>>> getting an error,
>>>>>> like Compile cannot create executable, or something to that effect.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not to mention when I tried to run it, it didn't forward any requests,
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> have followed all of the configuration examples and people's
>>>>>> suggestions,
>>>>>> never could forward any request to my backend server.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> After three weeks I managed to get my clients to have access to the
>>>>>> internet, and many applications didn't work, such as Yahoo, Msn, Steam
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> so on, when I ask for help, nobody has an answer including some
>>>>>> members of
>>>>>> the team.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes I can hear some arguments, saying but we are volunteers, true, but
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> either do something that works or don't.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If I needed help for say, Unrealircd or any other program I know I can
>>>>>> get
>>>>>> help, and their documentaion, does what it says on the tin. you follow
>>>>>> their instructions, you will get it to work exactly as they say.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> With squid, it doesn't work, that's all I am getting, I don't even
>>>>>> believe
>>>>>> that it works now to be honest, I am sorry I am not moaning but it's
>>>>>> true,
>>>>>> I have been on many forums for weeks and all I could see were problems
>>>>>> people are facing with any version of squid , and no solutions are
>>>>>> given
>>>>>> very few and after you fix one problem 10 others pop up somewhere else
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> certainly don't want to spend my life fixing and bashing my head
>>>>>> trying to
>>>>>> find a solution, I want something that works, but unfortunately it
>>>>>> doesn't.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am just going to try something else somewhere else,
>>>>>> Thanks all the same for anyone who tried to help, but this is not for
>>>>>> me,
>>>>>> life is too short to waste anymore of my time, in trying to get
>>>>>> something
>>>>>> that doesn't work, "working"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If anybody can prove me wrong:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>> All the best to everyone
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
Received on Thu Mar 18 2010 - 21:06:05 MDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.2.0 : Fri Mar 19 2010 - 12:00:05 MDT